Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was the hero as unconvincing Roma sneaked into the last 16 of the Champions League with a scoreless draw at home to BATE Borisov on Wednesday.

On-loan Arsenal 'keeper Szczesny has claimed throughout this season he aims to return to the Emirates.

And on this performance the Pole may have just convinced Gunners boss Arsene Wenger of his value after denying BATE on two clear chances in a dramatic second half at the Stadio Olimpico.

Roma welcomed the Belarusian champions knowing defeat would end their bid to reach the knockout phase for the first time since the 2010-2011 campaign.

Rudi Garcia's men suffered a serious setback when Gervinho pulled up in the warm-up.

Roma have failed to win a game of any kind since wingers Gervinho and Mohamed Salah suffered injury following a 2-0 derby win over Lazio at the start of November.

Gervinho was replaced by Juan Iturbe, who on the hour made way for Salah as a desperate Roma battled for an opening goal against the increasingly menacing visitors.

Roma's last-gasp Gervinho setback certainly appeared to have an effect: the hosts failed to spark in a listless opening half which they dominated by creating a series of half-chances.

Radja Nainggolan tried his luck from distance twice early on but a Roma opener looked increasingly likely to come from a dead ball situation and Miralem Pjanic came close when he forced Sergei Chernik to race across his line and parry at his far post.

Without Gervinho or Salah, Edin Dzeko's hopes of service were automatically reduced and the Bosnian had a first half to forget, somehow losing control of a promising ball delivered by Nainggolan on the edge of the area.

The likelihood of a Garcia telling-off at half-time saw Roma enjoy a promising start to second half.

Minutes after the restart Pjanic found Dzeko with a short pass just outside the area but an alert Chernik was out quickly to block with his legs what was Roma's best chance thus far.

It finally jolted the Olimpico into song, although Roma never really managed to lift a crowd of only 29,489 -- many fans still staying away amid an ongoing boycott over recently-introduced security measures.

Minutes later Nainggolan found Dzeko to the left of goal and although the striker's path was blocked by Maksim Zhavnerchik, the Bosnian turned, got himself into position and shot wide of Chernik's post.

Roma had the momentum and when Dzeko got the ball through a gaggle of defenders to Florenzi, the Roma right-back hit a deflected effort wide from a tight angle as Chernik came out to block.

Roma's bid was almost completely derailed on 68 minutes when Szczesny pulled off a stunning point-blank save on Mikhail Gordeichuk after he connected with Maksim Golodko's weighted cross on 68 minutes.

It underlined the hosts need for a goal and Roma dug deep only to be denied on every occasion.

Chernik came out to intercept a cross for Dzeko and Pjanic's follow up strike was spectacularly cleared off the line by Nemanja Milunovic.

Two minutes later Dzeko, with no way through a packed BATE area, hit an angled drive that Chernik parried with relative ease But BATE refused to surrender arms.

Szczesny saved the day again on a rising angled strike from Filip Mladenovic, the danger cleared only when Igor Stasevich's close-range shot was blocked.

Nainggolan and Salah late chances go amiss and Roma hung, but the memory of clinching their last 16 ticket will come with the sound of jeers and whistles that rang round the stadium at full-time.