Arsenal fans will not be rushing to grab copies of the video but after an unconvincing performance, Arsene Wenger and his players can at least count on a place in the final 16.

After surviving a hairy opening in which they conceded and might have seen their three-goal lead wiped out, Arsenal scored three before the break to create a five-goal cushion. Second-half goals by Antoine Sibierski and Marama Vahirua were academic for Nantes as Arsenal slipped into cruise control. Nantes, who began without seven players because of injury and suspension, always had a mountain to climb. For Arsenal there were familiar faces missing, too, among them Dennis Bergkamp, Martin Keown and David Seaman.

Initially it seemed that Seaman's replacement Alex Manninger would be in for a torrid night. In the sixth minute he made a brilliant one-handed stop from Alioune Tourne and followed that up by saving the rebound from Eric Carriere. Gilles Grimandi equalised in the 25th minute and Nantes, not surprisingly, caved in. By halftime further goals by Thierry Henry and Marc Overmars had given Arsenal a 3-1 lead. For his second goal in as many matches Grimandi was indebted to Freddie Ljungberg's flick from a Patrick Vieira pass. Left with a clear chance from close in, the defender had little difficulty in beating Mickael Landreau.

Within minutes Nwankwo Kanu's exquisite flick over the Nantes defence released Thierry Henry, who finished. Then, as the interval beckoned, Emmanuel Petit picked out Overmars and the Dutchman turned his marker Salomon Olembe before tucking his shot into the far corner.

It was hardly a shock that Arsenal took their foot off the gas at the start of the second half. Nantes did almost all the attacking and after Sibierski had pulled a goal back from long range only another fine double stop by Manninger prevented a goal.

NANTES: Landreau, Olembe (Lievre 46), Gillet, Savinaud, Leroy, Carriere, Berson (Fenillat 66), Sibierski (Vahirua 75), Bustos, Toure, Da Rocha. Subs Not Used: Grondin, Mace, Aristouy, Rubil. Booked: Savinaud, Berson, Leroy. Goals: Sibierski 12, 57, Vahirua 77.

ARSENAL: Manninger, Dixon, Adams, Grimandi, Winterburn, Ljungberg (Vivas 78), Vieira, Petit, Overmars (Silvinho 64), Kanu, Henry (Suker 70). Subs Not Used: Hughes, Luzhny, Barrett, Lukic. Booked: Vieira, Grimandi. Goals: Grimandi 24, Henry 31, Overmars 42.

Referee: Jan Wengeref (Holland).