Arsenal 2 Steaua Bucharest 1: The major clubs who could now face Arsenal in the last 16 of the Champions League will rue the fact Arsene Wenger's team has come second in Group H even more than the Frenchman does.
If the reintroduction of Jens Lehmann for his first appearance since August 19th was an experiment it must have been aimed at establishing whether the 38-year-old goalkeeper's tolerance of winter temperatures is as good as ever.
Theo Walcott contributed in a modest yet telling way after eighth minutes with a jink and pass to Bacary Sagna. The full-back sent a low cross to Abou Diaby, who eluded Ionut Rada before finding the net.
The scorer was not the only person making a comeback in a line-up fashioned out of fringe players. Arsenal would have had difficulty making out Steaua, so firmly was their gaze fixed on Chelsea, Sunday's visitors. Robin van Persie was in the line-up for the first time since October 7th.
Among the convalescents, Diaby had the most poise. Robinson Zapata's save from a shot that deflected off Rada prevented him from scoring and Arsenal did not add to their lead until the 42nd minute. Build up from Alexandre Song and Van Persie invited Niklas Bendtner to drive low to the net. For the visitors, substitute Dorel Zaharia scored with a header after 69 minutes.
Guardian Service
ARSENAL:Lehmann, Sagna (Diarra 70), Gallas, Senderos, Traore, Walcott, Song Billong, Denilson, Diaby (Eboue 70), Van Persie (Eduardo 64), Bendtner. Subs not used: Fabianski, Toure, Silva, Adebayor. Booked: Bendtner.
STEAUA BUCHAREST:Zapata, Emeghara, Goian, Rada, Nesu, Neaga (Zaharia 64), Petre, Lovin, Cristocea (Surdu 56), Dica, Badea (Golanski 81). Subs not used: Cernea, Bicfalvi, Baciu, Marin. Booked: Neaga.
Referee:Yuri Baskakov (Russia).
