A surprisingly strong side on paper, with only 4 players you wouldn't expect to see in the first team (and one of those the Argentine international Vivas).

But perhaps Sparta would have been better served by more youngsters in the Arsenal side, because this side didn't exactly play like they meant it.

Fair play to Shakhtar though, who deserved to go one nil up after 34 minutes, and defended well thereafter snatching 2 more goals also on the break. They certainly deserve to go through to the UEFA Cup ahead of Sparta on what we've seen, if only because their finishing is streaks ahead. Sparta can hardly complain anyway, their loss to Lazio made our result irrelevant.

Keown missed a high ball coming over his back to let in Atelkin for that first goal, it put him clear on Taylor in the Arsenal goal, and the shot went in off the post.

10 minutes into the second half Vorobyey got the second with a superb free-kick curled over the wall and just inside the post from a few yards outside the box. 10 minutes later Vivas lost the ball in midfield and Shakhtar seized the opportunity with pace and skill, Bielik volleying home a cross from his right.

We were perhaps a bit unlucky with the scoreline, a couple of dodgy offsides for example. But anyway, Lazio's win in Sparta tonight makes no difference, Arsenal leading the group because of the results between us and the Italians.

Arsenal:
Taylor; Dixon Keown Upson Cole;
Parlour (Vernazza) Vivas Lauren;
Kanu Henry (Ljungberg) Wiltord