Bradford last night appeared in the biggest theatre since reaching the Premiership and were often caught blinking in the spotlights. Arsenal scored twice early on and the sheer pace of their football had the opposition chasing shadows, with Gary Walsh's admirable goal-keeping alone keeping Bradford in the contest.
Arsenal's need to respond quickly and positively to Sunday's defeat by Manchester United boded ill for Bradford's chances of repeating their win against the odds at Middlesbrough on the opening day.
With Patrick Vieira and Nwankwo Kanu soon taking the ball through the heart of the Bradford defence, Highbury was swift to scent a goal and its instincts were not to be disappointed. Within eight minutes Arsenal were ahead. Another nine and they had scored again.
First Vieira rose imperiously at the far post to head in from Vivas's corner. Then Kanu scored with a penalty given when Wayne Jacobs pulled down Ray Parlour.
After that Bradford struggled not so much to get into the game as keep track of the bewildering speed of Arsenal's passing and movement. The move which should have brought them a third goal towards the half-hour was a case in point, a swift build-up by Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry with the latter's centre finding Kanu unmarked in front of goal, only to volley the ball into the goalkeeper's hands.
With Walsh spreading himself to block a shot from Henry, released by Bergkamp's superb return pass, and diving to save another from the Frenchman two minutes later, Arsenal came off at half-time knowing they could have doubled their score.
Stuart McCall added some experienced wrinkles to Bradford's midfield for the second half but the match was still Arsenal's to win however they chose. They opted for a policy of gentle jogging punctuated by sudden sprints, one of which saw Henry and Kanu set up Bergkamp for a shot blocked by Walsh.
Towards the hour another gift-wrapped return ball from Bergkamp sent Frederik Ljungberg through but again Walsh was equal to the moment, pushing the Swede's shot wide.
Arsenal: Manninger, Vivas, Keown, Grimandi, Silvinho, Ljungberg, Vieira, Parlour, Henry (Overmars 61), Bergkamp (Suker 67), Kanu (Upson 78). Subs Not Used: Dixon, Lukic. Booked: Vieira. Goals: Vieira 8, Kanu 17 pen.
Bradford: Walsh, Lawrence (Blake 63), Wetherall, Dreyer, Jacobs, Halle (McCall 45), Whalley, O'Brien, Beagrie, Windass, Saunders. Subs Not Used: Myers, Clarke, Moore. Booked: Wetherall, Dreyer.
Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood).
