Arsenal started really well and for the first 20 minutes were the only side in it. The best chance fell to Vieira, who managed to head a Pires corner onto the bar from about a yard out when it look easier to score (it might even have gone in if he'd just ducked out of the way).

After they'd weathered the storm, Valencia started to come back into it, and started to look like the class act they obviously are. Seaman had to make a good save from a long-range Mendietta shot, and then an excellent block with his feet when Carew was set free and went wide of Dave before shooting. The ball came back to Carew, and this time his shot hit the near post from a narrow angle.

5 minutes before the end of the half they took the lead when Ljungberg failed to deal with an Adams header out from a corner, giving the ball to Gonzalez on the left. His superb crossfield ball found Mendieta on the right, and although his cross was cut out in the air, it fell perfectly for the defender Ayala to volley into the roof of the net from 8 yards out.

Arsenal started the second half well too, with 3 strikers on now that Wiltord had replaced Freddie. And about 15 minutes in Vieira decided it was time to make something happen. He powered forward from the halfway line, through a few defenders, and fed Wiltord on the left. Sylvain went deep and cut it back into the box where Kanu failed to control it. It went towards the far corner of the box where Pires picked it up with back to goal and backheeled it exquisitely, through the defence to Henry. He was in acres of space in front of goal as the defence (Angloma, who looked eminently "skinnable" throughout) had failed to push up for offside, and Thierry made no mistake with the finish.

Before we'd finished celebrating, Ray Parlour took the ball off Kanu just inside the Valencia half and powered down the inside right channel before unleashing an unstoppable rising shot into the top right hand corner.

Arsenal kept up the pressure, and Henry arguably should have made it 3 when Kanu played him through from the halfway line. But he stumbled as he rounded the keeper giving a defender time to get back and clear.

Although the Spanish side got the upper hand again towards the end, Arsenal defended well, and take a 1 goal lead to the away leg. It's going to be tough. We'll be reminded that Valencia don't ever lose at home, but we can remind them that they don't need to, and that just one goal for Arsenal means they have to score 3. Also, Valencia don't ever concede 2 goals in Europe either...

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