An extraordinary goal by Thierry Henry on 30 minutes saw Arsenal win the first of this season's "championship deciders".

The ball was rolled forward from a free-kick near the half-way line, and Thierry received it just outside the box on the left, with his back to goal and a couple of United players in close attendance. He flicked it up and hit it with his right almost immediately, the ball looping perfectly inside the far top corner.

Not for the first time, Henry's eye for goal made me think of Ian Wright. And credit has to go to Martin Keown, who gave Henry a Wrighty video to watch early in his Arsenal career. Henry's said that watching it, he was impressed by Wright's goalscoring instintcs, and the number of goals he scored from unexpected positions. Henry's joined the club.

Man Utd had more possession in the second half, but Arsenal probably had the better chances on the break. Bergkamp could have got one, and only a magnificent save from Barthez stopped Kanu in injury time at the end.

As predicted, Bergkamp and Parlour played the roles given them against Lazio. In fact, Grimandi for the suspended Vieira was the only change (note to Ferguson - squad rotation only works in your favour if you play your best team against ALL the big names). Not sure what's up with Dixon - is Luzhny really being preferred? Is he our new right back after all?

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