Despite suffering an onslaught for the first 30 minutes, they always looked quick on the break and were happy to go forward when allowed. The went ahead thanks to a deflected long-range free-kick (the less-than-usually impressive Pires turning his back as the ball came at him), and extended the lead minutes later with a super move ended with a narrow angle shot from the left.

It could be argued that Shakhtar were unlucky to lose their captain Popov for a second bookable offence (the second, for obstruction, looking rather unlucky as he could hardly get out of Vieira's way). But their players were going into the book at a rate of knots, and it was only a matter of time. Some of the pathetic histrionics following alleged fouls made one less sympathetic too. The keeper was something of a character, with his "rolling about in agony" act and his flapping at the ball. But he made some cracking saves too somewhere in all that throwing-himself-about.

Wiltord, who'd come on for the injured Pires, pulled one back right at the end of the half, side-footing the rebound from Henry's saved penalty home through a narrow gap between keeper and post. It was all a bit dodgy to be honest, both the penalty award (won by Wiltord) and the fact that he was within the box when Henry took the penalty. But hey, he's one of ours, and looks so far to have the potential to be worth at least most of the money we paid for him.

It was all Arsenal again in the second half (31 shots to their 9, 18 corners to their none), and the Shakhtar keeper pulled off some stunning saves. Notably from two great Lee Dixon strikes. Henry went close twice, one a sly drag-back with his back to goal as a Silvinbho cross came past him. And Kanu nearly got the goal of the millenium as he danced past 4 defenders or more with the ball stuck to one foot then the other, but side-footed the ball just wide of the far post.

Bergkamp came on, and raised the tempo even more creating better and better chances, despite the fact that Shaktar were all back defending.

But with all 4 strikers on the field again, it was defender Martin Keown who got the 2 late goals that saved the 3 points. The first was bundled in from a corner using, I think, his right nipple. The second was a low drive from inside the box after Kanu had drawn the keeper to the left and pulled the ball back. He ran to the corner flag to celebrate the winner, with that huge grin which is probably still on the face of the Arsenal fan.

Keown had nearly gone off injured in the first half, carried off on a stretcher with what looked like a hamstring problem. I thought at the time what a relief it must have been for Keegan when he came back on (what with Adams and Campbell both doubtful). Well, never mind England, what a relief for Arsenal.

More to follow on the match report page, where there's already the usual list of links to reports on other sites.