Bayer actually started the game quite brightly, and even dominated the first half in terms of possession. But on 5 minutes Pires picked the ball up just inside his half (thanks to a tackle from Vieira), and as he made his way forward the space kept opening up (thanks in mo small part to the running of Bergkamp and Henry) until he was in a position to stroke the ball home from the D. It was such a gentle shot I thought he'd scuffed it at first.

Minutes later, and again it was Vieira's domination which started things off. This time Bergkamp brought the ball forward down the middle, before pinpoint passes saw the ball move wide right to Wiltord than back across goal to Henry who nutmegged the keeper like it was the easiest thing in the world.

Like I said, Leverkusen weren't mere bystanders. We had a couple of scares when crosses came over from our left, which Bayer had presumably targeted as the weak point. And although we went into half time 2 goals to the goood, everyone knows that all to often a 2 goal lead just hasn't been enough for Arsenal in Europe in recent years.

But a couple of minutes into the second half Vieira got the third, stooping to head in a free-kick from the right which had been glanced beyond the far post from the 6 yard line. That really took the wind out of the German sails (although not their fans who continued to be in extraordinarily fine voice right up to the end) and the result was never in doubt from that point on.

Bergkamp capped it with a sublime goal near the end. Receiving Wiltord's ball from the right he nearly mis-controlled it in the D. The ball went past him but Dennis managed to stretch a foot out to get hold of it, and then turned back the way he'd come. He was always looking for goal, and even slipped as he was taking the shot. But it looped over the keeper and under the bar, the keeper had hardly been off his line.

Leverkusen got a consolation goal after that (a fine volley it was too) but Arsenal had taken a big step towards the quarters.

Wenger solved the left back problem with Lauren, and Dixon at right back. The Cameroonian did ok, but had to go off after being fouled in the second half. Edu (who came on for Grimandi once his defensive qualities weren't so crucial) switched to left back then. He may even have to continue there, as Lauren is rated very doubtful for Saturday.

Arsenal are now in second place (see table) behind Deportivo. We need to beat them by more than 2 goals at Highbury in a fortnight to be sure of going through. Anything less than that, and it goes to the last week.

Rupe adds...
Ben Fairweather has worked this through rather more than I did, and it does look like any win over Depor take us through. I was just thinking of what we needed to beat Depor, but even that's more complicated because even if we're level with them on points, the positions wouldn't necessarily be decided by the head-to-head results. Ben writes,

"A win over Depor would give us 10 points. It is possible for 3 teams to finish with 10 points in our group, but none with more than 10. So the worst that could happen, if we beat Depor, would be that we were one of 3 on ten points. The only possible combination of 3 teams on 10 points (following last night's matches) is Arsenal, Depor, and Juve (assuming we beat Depor next match)."

"If this happens, placings are determined by results in matches between the 3 teams that are level."

"Depor would have 7 points in the relevant matches, we'd have 6, and Juve would go out with 4 points in matches against us and Depor."

"If we fail to win, a draw vs Juve would still be enough to see us through unless Bayer win both remaining matches."

Thanks Ben.

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