The former Parma, Palermo and Lazio midfielder opened the scoring after 25 minutes and then grabbed the winner eight minutes from the end after Andre Senghor had levelled for the visitors.

Al-Emirates remain rooted to the foot of the table after slumping to their sixth defeat in seven games - a 1-0 loss at Ajman.

Hassan Matouq scored the winner for the hosts who climb to seventh as a result.