SOCCER/Group E/Arsenal - 5 Rosenborg - 1: Arsenal trotted happily into the knockout phase by topping their group and even ended on a note of glee when the substitute Robin Van Persie dinked in a fifth goal in the closing minutes. They thereby equalled the club's record win in the competition, even if it was definitely far harder to run up that score against Internazionale in Milan last year.
The circumstances of the group looked as if they had the potential to worry Arsenal, but Rosenborg came to Highbury as therapists rather than tormentors. It was a shame that Freddie Ljungberg was missing through illness because even he might have been healed in this benevolent environment.
Manuel Almunia produced the sort of outstanding save that begins to explain why a little-known Spaniard has replaced the Germany international Jens Lehmann, without which the visitors would have pulled level at 1-1, but even that would not have checked Arsene Wenger's team.
The goalkeeper was later to cost his side a goal, but only when the outcome was already certain. The Arsenal manager, if his faith in the late-flowering 27-year-old's potential is as deep as he declares, might still be prepared to continue his education against Chelsea on Sunday.
Highbury thoughts, in any case, are settling once more on Arsenal's attacking prowess. They had taken the lead in three Champions League games this season before lapsing to a draw, but Rosenborg could not subdue them.
The evening was packed with encouragement. Jose Antonio Reyes, muted since his pounding by Manchester United boots at Old Trafford in October, showed that his temperament is healing nicely. Dennis Bergkamp, whose comeback from injury restored wit to the build-up, set the winger running on the left and he skipped inside the hapless Torjus Hansen before finding the net at the near post.
The sidelining of Ljunberg had not been part of any conscious scheme, but this set-up suited Arsenal. While Reyes was free-spirited, Robert Pires, on the other flank, added poise that helped the inexperienced pairing of Matthieu Flamini and Cesc Fabregas in midfield to take command.
Arsenal could only conceivably have failed if Harald Brattbakk's well-aimed volley from Fredrik Winsnes's cross in the 17th minute continued on its way to the corner of the net, but the springing Almunia pushed it behind.
Seven minutes later, Flamini's hard tackle scooped the ball forward and Thierry Henry, sprinting behind the unhappy Hansen, lobbed the ball into the net.
Arsenal had a festive merriment about them, with half an hour gone, when Bergkamp laid the ball off to Fabregas. The teenager teased it away from Erik Hoftun with his right foot and then smacked it past Espen Johnsen for another goal.
At 17, Fabregas is now the youngest scorer in European competition for the club.
Rosenborg were soon to see the captain, Hoftun, head a corner kick onto the post, but the lapse was more disturbing as a portent for games to come than an immediate worry here.
Arsenal could even tolerate Rosenborg scoring. Almunia dropped a Brattbakk free-kick and Hoftun, with the aid of a small deflection, shot home.
As if to show they were not distracted, Wenger's side re-established a three-goal margin before the interval. Henry, while clear, seemed to be getting himself into a tangle but he went down over Espen Johnsen's leg and Pires drilled the penalty home in an understandably relaxed manner.
In their own limited fashion, Rosenborg had been commendable. With the place at the bottom of the group already assured they could have come to London in a churlish and resentful mood, but they endeavoured to carry the play to Arsenal, knowing full well that they could not ask much of their weak defence.
Precocious as Fabregas may be, and undeniable as the industry of Flamini is, Wenger's team did not have the know-how to shield the defence. That was an academic matter here but it will be a pressing issue come Sunday. Patrick Vieira will be suspended again when Chelsea visit, while, of course, Edu and Gilberto are still some way from overcoming injury.
Arsenal have righted themselves in a Champions League group with much greater ease than they did a year ago, but the greater anxiety has not been dispelled yet. The club have another victory to their credit but they know little about their state of readiness for Chelsea.
ARSENAL: Almunia, Hoyte, Campbell, Toure, Cole (Van Persie 75), Pires (Owusu-Abeyie 88), Fabregas, Flamini, Reyes, Bergkamp (Clichy 71), Henry. Subs Not Used: Lehmann, Ljungberg, Senderos, Larsson. Booked: Flamini. Goals: Reyes 3, Henry 24, Fabregas 29, Pires 41 pen, Van Persie 84.
ROSENBORG: Espen Johnsen, Winsnes (Olsen 88), Hansen, Hoftun, Stensaas, Strand (George 62), Frode Johnsen, Solli, Braaten, Helstad (Storflor 78), Brattbakk. Subs Not Used: Ronningen, Russell, Skjelbred, Tettey. Booked: Espen Johnsen. Goals: Hoftun 38.
Referee: S Farina (Italy).
