Thierry Henry scored the goal that propelled Arsenal into the second group phase in the final minute of injury-time last night. Just when Arsenal appeared to have lost their chance of winning this group, the Frenchman broke through on the left, steadied himself for an eternity and coolly stroked in a side-footed shot.
Another Arsenal defensive lapse appeared to have prevented them wrapping up qualification. Having established the two-goal lead they needed to advance, they allowed Real Mallorca a goal with 16 minutes left.
After an hour of frustration and little rhythm against a negative Mallorca, Arsenal seemed set fair when Robert Pires and Dennis Bergkamp scored within two minutes. But Alvaro Novo calmly beat Richard Wright when put through by Alejandro Campano.
Arsenal knew defeat would signal massive embarrassment by sending them out of the competition at the first hurdle and must have felt confident of beating a Mallorca side whose early-season troubles prompted them to dismiss their coach Bernd Krauss last week.
The crowd expected nothing less than a victory against a team in La Liga's relegation zone. They had to hope the defence, in which Sol Campbell returned to partner Martin Keown, could provided a solid base from which Arsenal could come forward.
There was little to test them in the first half. Mallorca's negative formation signalled that they planned above all to make life difficult. They did, though, make several early defensive errors and Freddie Ljungberg might have done better than shoot over inside 10 minutes.
Both sides were wasteful in possession during a scrappy opening that looked far from Champions League quality. At least Patrick Vieira, strong as ever in the tackle and driving forward, was doing his best to spark the home side.
Mallorca, having beaten Arsenal 1-0 in September, knew a draw would suit them, giving them a head-to-head advantage if they finish level on points with Arsenal. Little was seen of them as an attacking force, and Arsenal were doing all the pressing. They gradually began to make headway without looking entirely convincing.
Vieira - who else - forced Leo Franco into a save with a powerful long-range shot and the goalkeeper, surprisingly recovered from injury, was grateful to see Thierry Henry scuff a shot at the end of a fine run.
Although Henry was full of running, too many Arsenal players were below par or seemed nervy. They were dominating territorially but struggled for clear chances until late in the first half, when their pressure almost told. Ljungberg twice gave Henry a sight of goal, but the striker screwed a shot wide and put a half-volley into the side netting.
Dennis Bergkamp, making a first European start of the season, looked to have a good call for a penalty when he was bundled to the ground by Miguel Nadal, and the Dutchman chipped a fantastic effort just wide before the interval.
Having ended the first half brightly, Arsenal lost their verve. The temptation to bring on Sylvain Wiltord or Nwankwo Kanu must have grown by the minute.
Despite Vieira's best efforts, Arsenal lacked a figure to make the play and were making far too many errors in possession. The final ball was too often lacking.
They were lucky not to fall behind in the 54th minute when Alejandro Campano shot wide unmarked from Veljko Paunovic cross.
But Robert Pires put a shot wide, then made amends within two minutes.
Ljungberg's cross from the right eluded Henry but the winger shot in at the far post. Almost immediately, Arsenal had a second, Giovanni van Bronckhorst crossing for Bergkamp to head in emphatically.
And Henry said afterwards: "It was very close. We didn't play that well at the beginning and it was difficult because they were keeping the ball well and slowing the pace.
"But we showed that when we are tired we can go forward and score some great goals."
ARSENAL: Wright, Lauren, Keown, Campbell, van Bronckhorst, Ljungberg (Kanu 78), Vieira, Grimandi (Parlour 84), Pires, Bergkamp (Wiltord 72), Henry. Subs Not Used: Taylor, Edu, Upson, Luzhny. Goals: Pires 61, Bergkamp 63, Henry 90.
MALLORCA: Leo Franco, Akyel (Biagini 65), Olaizola, Nadal, Miquel Soler, Campano, Marcos (Robles 72), Diaz, Novo, Luque (Carlos 80), Paunovic. Subs Not Used: Miki, Soler, Riera. Booked: Akyel. Goals: Novo 74.
Referee: Dick Jol (Holland).
