Arsenal vs Sparta Prague
Match pulse
ARSAttacking pressure by 5 minutes
Who won: Arsenal 3-0
Arsenal beat Sparta Prague 3-0 on Wednesday, November 2, 2005 at Highbury. Goals for Arsenal: Thierry Henry (23') and Robin van Persie (82', 86').
Play by play
- 92'
FULL-TIME: A late flourish puts a gloss on the scoreline, but Arsenal were made to work for it. Prague defended resolutely until Van Persie's late brace ensured Arsenal's progression to the knock-out stages.
- 90'
Blazek turns the ball around the post as an Arsenal corner is deflected goalwards. Good alert goalkeeping.
- 89'
ALMOST! Van Persie sends over a left-foot cross which is almost headed in to his own net by Kadlek.
- 88'
OOOH! Van Persie almost completes an astonishing hat-trick, though he is denied by a good save from Blazek as he shot from a tight angle.
- 87'
Sparta have had plenty of shots this evening, but they have only tested the Arsenal goalkeeper twice.
- 86'
SHOT! Zalenka smashes a left-foot shot a few yards over Amunia's crossbar from just ouside the penalty area.
- 86'
A nice finish from Arsenal as they end the game with a flourish. The scoreline probably flatters them a little, but they are taking full advantage of the space at the back.
- 85'
GOAL! Eboue does well to get to the by-line and cut the ball back to Van Persie, who slots a right-foot shot past Blazek and in to the corner.
- 84'
CHANCE! Matusovic curls a superb ball in to the penalty area where Petras had stole in around the back of the defence. Just six yards out, he plants his volley over the bar.
- 83'
Almunia was caught in no-man's land on that corner; he neither came for the ball nor stayed on his line. Not a confident display from the keeper.
- 82'
OFF THE BAR! Petras plants a header off the underside of the crossbar as he meets a corner from the left.
- 81'
SUB: Reyes off, Eboue on. Arsenal give a run-out to their young striker after Van Persie's goal finishes off the tie.
- 80'
GOAL! Bergkamp rolls the ball in to the path of Van Persie after Reyes had robbed the ball on the half-way line. The youngster cuts inside on to his left foot and smashes a shot past Blazek from the edge of the penalty area.
- 79'
RIPPER! Reyes picks out Bergkamp and reverses a lofted pass out to the right wing. The veteran Dutchman takes a step inside the area and unleases a powerful shot, but it flies a yard over the bar.
- 78'
SUB: Petras off, Jeslinek on. A Champions League debut for the youngster.
- 77'
The header of a moment or two ago should really spark Arsenal in to life and encourage them to finish this game off.
- 76'
HEADER! Slepicka curls a flat, dangerous cross in to the six-yard box, and Matusovic flicks a header inches over the crossbar. A warning for Arsenal.
- 74'
There are a few anti-Mourinho chants around Highbury at the moment; a response to the recent 'War of Words' between the Chelsea manager and Arsene Wenger.
- 73'
...This time Reyes takes the set-piece. He goes near post, but curls it a yard or so wide. Blazek seemed to have the effort covered anyway.
- 73'
Hasek commits another foul in a dangerous area. It's in a similar spot to the Van Persie free-kick of a few minutes ago...
- 72'
SUB: Pires off, Fabregas on. The young Spaniard replaces the veteran Frenchman as Arsenal try to inject some fresh energy in to the game.
- 71'
...It's three-on-three on the counter-attack. Reyes releases Pires down the right channel, but the Frenchman then blazes his shot high over the crossbar when well-placed inside the penalty area.
- 71'
...Petras curls the ball in to the middle, but Arsenal clear and break at pace...
- 70'
Matusovic is fouled by Reyes; free-kick, out on the left wing...
- 69'
Arsenal prepare to make another change, with Fabregas stripping down on the substitutes bench.
