As you'll all be aware by now, Arsenal won in Rome last night thanks to a Thierry Henry hattrick. For the first time in 3 seasons we've managed not to get off to a losing start to the second phase.

Rami Shabaan was back in goal due to David Seaman's groin injury, which apparently is known to be bad enough to keep him out of the Villa game on Saturday.

Shabaan looked a bit shaky early on, particularly when Cassano was put through and the keeper fumbled after saving. He was lucky that Cygan managed to clear.

Not so lucky moments later though, when Totti put the same man in. He checked back and hit a well disguised shot which just trickled in off the post. Not much chance for the keeper, this was more down to the striker being left in far too much space by his defence.

But before you had time to think how dodgy this was looking, Arsenal crafted a world class goal thanks to 2 world class players. Gilberto won the ball in midfield, and strode Vieira-liek through some challenges before slipping a perfect pass to Henry, outside the box on the left. He made for goal and executed a typically cool finish in the classic Henry style, past the keeper's left hand and inside the far post. Again you have to wonder where the marking was, but the power and speed of Gilberto's break must have taken them by surprise.

That was about a minute after Roma's goal, and another minute later Henry went on an amazing run but finished with a weak shot easily dealt with by the keeper.

Totti was playing up front, presumably to allow the recently injured midfielder more time to rest in his comeback game. It helped Arsenal out in midfield, but he did nearly put Roma ahead again after Cafu's pass found him from the left wing. Totti's brilliant control and shot from outside the box had Shabaan easily beaten, but Cygan pulled off a breathtaking goal-line clearance.

Campbell had to make a big tackle on Cassano, and all in all Roma were looking a bit dangerous towards the end of the first half.

It continued in the second, but Arsenal fought a great rearguard action to keep them out. We rode our luck a bit when Shabaan caught Pannuci as he raced through, but the ref didn;t see it as a penalty.

Then with 20 minutes to go Luzhny put one in the box for Henry. His header forward fell to the ground after hitting Panucci in the back. Henry was first to react and drilled it through the keeper's legs.

Batistuta came on and nearly made a goal for Cafu with a backheel, but Shabaan saved well. Arsenal took it up the other end where Emerson brought Wiltord down outside the box on the left. Henry hit a beautiful free-kick over the wall and inside the top left hand corner.

The hat-trick took Henry past van Nistleroy in the Champ Leagey scoring stakes (the Dutchman having got a brace himsefl the night before). Thierry is now 4th in the all time list behind Raul, Del Piero, and Kluivert.

Keown came on for Wiltord with 6 minutes left, and made some big tackles. Batistuta was lucky to stay on the pitch till the end. Having already been booked, he then made a bizarre attempt to grab Gilberto.

Meanwhile Ajax were getting a point in Spain, they were even ahead against Valencia for a while. So it's the perfect start for Arsenal and even just a point at home to Valencia in 2 weeks would leave us in pole position going into the Xmas break.