Sparta Prague 0 Arsenal 2: Arsenal moved a step closer to the lucrative group stages of the Champions League with a 2-0 away victory over Sparta Prague tonight.
On the ground where former captain Thierry Henry had become the club's all-time record goalscorer two season ago, the next generation of young Gunners looked to begin writing a new chapter.
And it was a hard-fought victory — courtesy of goals from Cesc Fabregas and Alexander Hleb, in stoppage time — on a humid night, overcoming tough opponents and a partisan crown at the AXA Stadium.
For long spells, Arsenal were on the back foot, and had goalkeeper Jens Lehmann - guilty of a terrible blunder against Fulham on Sunday — to thank when he deflected Jan Rezek's early effort onto the post and then denied Libor Dosek late on.
Following Hleb's timely second goal in the final moments of stoppage-time, Arsene Wenger will now be confident his side can finish the job at Emirates Stadium in a fortnight's time to once again join Manchester United and Chelsea in Europe's elite club competition.
