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Henry takes Arsenal into second phase of Champions League (25.10.2001)
LONDON
Arsene Wenger hailed Arsenal`s "best performance in Europe this season" as Thierry Henry fired his team to a 3-1 victory over Real Mallorca and into the Champions League second phase here Wednesday.
Goals in the 61st and 63rd minutes from Robert Pires and Dennis Bergkamp sent Arsenal on their way before Henry wrapped up the match in the second minute of stoppage time in the Group C match.
But Alvaro Novo`s 74th minute strike for Mallorca made for a nervous night in north London, with Wenger`s men needing a two-goal margin to be sure of going through.
In the dying minutes Arsenal restored their two-goal lead when Henry, played in by Giovanni van Bronckhorst, jogged past a static defence to slot past goalkeeper Leo Franco.
"I felt at 2-1 we had to take a chance because it was too dangerous to go to Schalke looking for a point," relieved Arsenal boss Wenger explained.
"I`m very pleased with the performance of the team.
"We had that kind of spirit that when it was 2-1 you could see we were desperate to score a third goal and then we finally got it," the Frenchman added.
"Looking at the way we started, in a very difficult group and with two defeats away from home, to turn it round like we did was for me a great achievement.
"This was our best performance in Europe this season. We played well against Panathinaikos but we have improved from game to game," Wenger said.
His opposite number, Sergio Kresic, struggled to contain his disappointment.
"My players were very positive and we thought until the very last minute we could get a draw that would take us into the UEFA Cup," said the Real Mallorca boss.
"We had a lot of players out and several World Cup winners against us but our team left the field with their heads held high."
Certainly nerves among the home crowd were being stretched before their heroes finally broke the deadlock
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after the hour mark.
Sweden winger Fredrik Ljungberg`s deep cross just evaded Henry`s head, but Pires met it on the half-volley to drive low past Franco at the back-post.
Then two minutes later, as news filtered through from Athens of a second Panathinaikos goal, Arsenal scored again.
Pires released Van Bronckhorst on the left and from the cross Bergkamp powered home a rare header from the edge of the six-yard box.
But Arsenal`s once famed defence has failed to keep a clean sheet in the Champions League so far this season and Mallorca became the latest side to find themselves on the scoresheet at what was once "fortress" Highbury.
A fine through ball from Alejandro Campano to Novo caught the Arsenal defence square.
The midfielder was clean through on Richard Wright and coolly rounded the England goalkeeper to pass the ball into an empty net.
A goalless first half saw Arsenal come closest to breaking the deadlock as Real Mallorca defended en masse.
Henry twice had chances repelled before frustratingly sidefooting wide before Bergkamp went close with a chip that just went past the post.
The Dutchman thought he had won a penalty when brought down by experienced Spain defender Miguel Nadal but the referee was not interested.
Arsenal recalled Sol Campbell to the centre of their defence and the return of Ljunberg gave the home side extra width.
France star Patrick Vieira forced Franco into an agile save in the 22nd minute and barely 60 seconds later the midfielder`s compatriot Henry should have given the home side the lead./p
In typical style he drifted past two defenders but just as common his weak shot was easily saved by the keeper.
Soon after that chance Ljungberg played in Henry, in the inside right position, and he was unlucky to see his low diagonal strike go past the far post. But his and Arsenal`s patience was ultimately rewarded.
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