SOCCER/Uefa Champions League Group B: Jose Mourinho so often sneers that only three English-based managers have won the Champions League. Yet Arsene Wenger's belief that he, too, has a European vocation rings just a little truer this morning.
In remarking that Wenger should put his own house in order before criticising Chelsea Mourinho cautiously remembered to underline that it was in the Premiership that Arsenal have been struggling. After all, Wenger's record in this season's Champions League had been superior to that of his rival and last night presented the opportunity to record the fourth successive win that would yield progress to the competition's knockout phase.
Wenger had put the paradox of the Premiership and European Arsenals down to his side's domestic defensive indiscipline and the unsettling nature of the international breaks. Given that so many of Wenger's gripes echo those of Mourinho it is perhaps a wonder that the pair are not firm friends.
That stretches a point, but they could have some fine conversation if they ever got round to it. After all, both men are enthusiastic about the talents of Thierry Henry and there was again much to enjoy in the striker's display last night. There was no sign of the thigh injury that forced him to sit out Saturday's north London derby and whether he was setting up others or scoring the opening goal he was in superlative form.
Arsenal's first chance came as Henry lifted a through ball into the box, which Dennis Bergkamp converted into a one-two with Robert Pires with a deft dab and collection, hitting the crossbar from six yards.
Two minutes later Jaromir Blazek was called on to deny the former Holland international as he collected a long ball but it did not all go Arsenal's way.
Jose Antonio Reyes gave away the ball to Miroslav Matusovic, who encountered no resistance from the callow Gael Clichy and attempted to feed Lukas Zelenka from the right. With Manuel Almunia - only playing due to a late back injury to Jens Lehmann - having raced from his line, the 26-year-old had a great chance to score.
But Almunia recovered superbly to make a diving, one-handed save at feet of Zelenka. Almunia was performing well, and stood firm before a long-distance drive from Martin Hasek. Sparta, with just one point from their opening three Champions League games and sinking in the Czech competition, were determined to attack Arsenal but with adventure comes vulnerability here. The crescendo of the first half came at its midpoint. Lauren drew back the ball for Bergkamp who slid it to Gilberto, he then laid it off for Reyes whose backheel teed it up for Henry to curl round the static Blazek.
Nine minutes after the interval Henry almost struck again. After winning a free-kick from Hasek's clumsy trip, the France international demurely swept in a swerving drive that had Blazek scrambling to ensure the danger was diverted round his post.
The frustrated visitors resorted to kicking their opponents and Wenger was forced into a precautionary substitution. Withdrawing the precious Henry from the fray was sensible, but the Frenchman showed a preciousness of a different sort, scowling all the way to the touchline and refusing to look his manager in the eye.
Henry knew he would be missing out on the fun and when another free-kick was awarded moments later, it was his replacement Robin van Persie who stung Blazek's palms with his dead-ball drive.
Prague had just one clear chance to retaliate, but Adam Petrous used his head to divert the substitute Miroslav Slepicka's cross-shot wide.
The exuberantly talented Van Persie then collected Bergkamp's centre and opened his body to curl his shot round Blazek and into the net. Van Persie added yet more polish with a first-time shot to turn in Emane Eboue's centre. For 90 happy minutes at least, Wenger could forget all about Chelsea and their manager.
ARSENAL: Almunia, Lauren, Toure, Campbell, Clichy, Reyes (Eboue 82), Silva, Flamini, Pires (Fabregas 73), Henry (Van Persie 66), Bergkamp. Subs Not Used: Poom, Song Billong, Cygan, Senderos. Goals: Henry 23, Van Persie 81, 86.
SPARTA PRAGUE: Blazek, Pergl, Lukas, Petrous (Jeslinek 80), Kadlec, Pospech, Petras, Zelenka, Hasek, Polacek (Slepicka 58), Matusovic. Subs Not Used: Grigar, Dosek, Herzan, Loucka. Booked: Petras.
Referee: A Sars (France).
