Champions League: It has taken 19 months, nine attempts and thousands of miles of frustrating travel, but Arsenal have another away win in Europe at last. Having managed two goals on their travels in this competition last season they doubled that in a single game last night, their first coming inside 20 seconds.
Gilberto Silva's early strike gave Arsenal a start they can barely have dreamt of. Although they passed poorly in the first half and might have been punished by a more incisive team than PSV Eindhoven, their second-half display was excellent as they took control. After Freddie Ljungberg's well taken second, Thierry Henry added two more, the first after a one-two with Nwanwko Kanu before he completed the win in injury time from Sylvain Wiltord's pass.
Arsene Wenger had hoped that his players would put to rest all the talk about their struggles away in Europe, five defeats and a draw in six trips to the continent last season having all but destroyed hopes of serious progress. After stating his belief that Arsenal will win this competition he knew this represented an important test.
With that in mind the manager had asked Dennis Bergkamp to travel to his homeland and given the striker his first away appearance in the Champions League since 1999. The idea was that the Dutchman's skill and presence would lift Arsenal to the heights seen in England.
Amazingly, after 20 seconds, Arsenal were ahead. Bergkamp may not have been involved in the move but perhaps the "psychological boost" Wenger had talked of the striker giving his team had the desired effect.
Silva was both instigator and scorer. The Brazilian intercepted inside his own half and fed Ljungberg, whose quick pass set Henry running. After beating Andre Ooijer the Frenchman crossed for Silva to finish at the far post after bombing forward.
Inevitably PSV were stung into a response and Arsenal had a narrow escape inside the first 10 minutes as well as losing Martin Keown to an injury which brought Pascal Cygan on as a substitute in the centre of defence.
PSV were inches from an equaliser when Dennis Rommedahl got the better of Ashley Cole and sent over a cross which Mateja Kezman headed just off target.
Earlier his strike partner Arnold Bruggink had seen a shot correctly ruled out for handball, prompting furious PSV fans to hurl objects on to the pitch.
Such a volatile atmosphere was no surprise given reports of trouble in the town centre before the game, prompted by a mob of PSV supporters.
On the field Arsenal were having to deal with plenty of PSV pressure, but only rarely did they seriously threaten a goal as Arsenal pressed hard in midfield and defended tenaciously. The impressive Cygan made an important block from a Wilfred Bouma cross and David Seaman saved at the feet of Kezman, who had benefited from a close offside call.
Arsenal's counter-attacks were sporadic, but gradually their retention of possession improved and they started to take the game to PSV. Wiltord, on one of his quieter nights, wasted a chance to put them in complete command when he failed to beat Ronald Waterreus after being put through by Henry.
The sight of missiles being thrown at Henry as he prepared to take a corner means PSV can expect to be sanctioned by UEFA. But the onslaught seemed to invigorate Henry and a second goal was not long in coming, Lauren putting in Ljungberg to score expertly with the outside of his right boot.
Guardian Service
PSV: Waterreus, Ooijer, Hofland (Vennegoor of Hesselink 46), Heintze (Lucius 61), Van Bommel, Kezman, Bruggink, Vogel (Leandro 27), Rommedahl, Bouma, Bogelund. Subs Not Used: Ten Rouwelaar, Faber, Robben, Van der Schaaf. Booked: Ooijer.
ARSENAL: Seaman, Cole, Lauren, Campbell, Keown (Cygan 9), Vieira, Silva, Ljungberg (Toure 85), Wiltord, Bergkamp (Kanu 79), Henry. Subs Not Used: Shaaban, Jeffers, Pennant, Luzhny. Booked: Lauren. Goals: Silva 1, Ljungberg 66, Henry 81, 90.
Referee: L Michel (Slovakia).
