Gunners boost Euro hopes

Arsenal's Kanu is tackled by Edmilson

Lyon 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal kept their Champions League ambitions alive with a priceless victory against an attacking Lyon side.

The Gunners, who have never lost an away game to French opposition, secured victory through Thierry Henry's 58th minute goal.

He headed home from eight yards after Ashley Cole's cross from the left had left Lyon goalkeeper Gregory Coupet exposed.

Olympique had reason to feel aggrieved after a fine first-half display, but Arsenal came out fired up for the second period and deserved the win.

The group is still wide open but we can decide who goes through with Bayern Munich with our performances at home

  Arsene Wenger

They looked more cohesive and determined after the break, and prevented Lyon from getting back into the stride until late in the game.

After making several good saves in the first half, David Seaman was less busy in the second but had to remain alert.

Sonny Anderson nearly levelled in the 63rd minute when he slipped between Tony Adams and Gilles Grimandi, but Seaman was well positioned to stop his close-range shot.

Henry went close again ten minutes later when he shot just wide from 22 yards as the Lyon defence backed off.

As the minutes ticked by, the home side threw men forward in a bid to get something from the game, but Arsenal defended valiantly and theatened on the break.

Always a threat

Only the post prevented had Arsenal going in 1-0 up at half-time, Henry's 44th-minute effort clipping the upright with Coupet beaten.

But it would have been rough justice on Lyon, who had by far the better of the first period and were always a threat going forward.

Seaman just managed to tip a Steve Marlet effort over in the fifth minute after the Lyon striker had shaken off Grimandi.

It was that close: Henry after hitting the post

The home side were unlucky not to get a penalty four minutes later when Cole clearly handled in the area, but Swiss referee Urs Meier waved play on.

Arsenal finally got their attacking act together in the 17th minute when Kanu's mazy 20-yard run ended with a shot just wide of the post.

Marlet, Anderson and Vikash Dhorasoo continued to pose problems for the Gunners, but it was the Brazilian Edmilson who nearly gave Lyon the lead.

Only a slight deflection off Parlour prevented his 20-yard free kick from finding the net in the 34th minute after an Adams foul on Anderson.

But Arsenal held their nerve, re-grouped and re-ignited their European hopes through Henry's 16th goal of the season.

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Teams:

Lyon: Coupet, Deflandre, Muller, Edmilson, Brechet, Laigle, Foe, Violeau, Dhorasoo, Marlet, Anderson.

Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon, Grimandi, Adams, Cole, Parlour, Lauren, Vieira, Pires, Henry, Kanu.

Referee: Urs Meier (Switzerland).