Gunners humble Juve

Ljungberg has now scored in his last three matches

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Arsenal 3-1 Juventus

Arsenal got their first points of the Champions League second phase with a superb victory over Italian giants Juventus.

The game was a personal triumph for Freddie Ljungberg, whose two goals started and ended the scoring.

Thierry Henry added the other Gunners goal from a free-kick, while the Juventus goal came from an unlucky own goal by Arsenal goalkeeper Stuart Taylor.

With Deportivo la Coruna losing their game, Group D is wide open again with all four teams taking three points from the opening two games.

It was a tremendous collective performance. They wanted it so much and they got it

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger

The Arsenal display was underpinned by solid defending from Sol Campbell and Matthew Upson in the centre of defence and tireless running from Robert Pires and Ljungberg.

As for the visitors, their threat diminished as the night went on, with David Trezeguet and Alessandro del Piero particularly disappointing in attack.

After a sluggish opening, Arsenal assumed control of the first half, with incisive counter-attacks that unsettled Juventus' illustrious defence.

The first goal, which came in the 21st minute, was the result of astute play by Patrick Vieira on the edge of the Juventus penalty box.

  Match facts

21 mins: Ljungberg scores 1-0

28 mins: Henry strikes from free-kick 2-0

49 mins: Freak own goal from Taylor 2-1

87 mins: Ljungberg strikes again 3-1

He turned inside his marker, before shooting so powerfully with his right foot that Gianluigi Buffon could only parry the ball into Ljungberg's path.

The Swedish international curled his shot into the corner of the goal.

Seven minutes later, Henry doubled the lead. His stunning free-kick from 20 yards out flew into the net with Buffon rooted to his line.

The Gunners could have added to that lead during the first 45 minutes, with Ljungberg having a close-range shot blocked, while Henry and Parlour both went close with long-range efforts.

They played their game and we played ours and in hindsight I can't fathom it out as we can't say Arsenal completely overrun us

Marcelo Lippi

That the hosts were able to survive the opening ten minutes was due to the outstanding performance of reserve keeper Taylor.

He saved brilliantly from Del Piero in the fourth minute and blocked a goalbound shot from Pavel Nedved shortly after.

After such a commanding display in the first half, Taylor must have rued his luck after unwittingly giving Juventus a foothold in the match during the opening minutes of the second period.

The 20-year-old saved Gianluca Zambrotta's shot only for Trezeguet's follow-up shot, which was blocked on the line by Campbell, to rebound into the goal via his back.

Henry's second was gave Arsenal breathing space

The goal made the second half a tense affair, although in terms of chances and threat, Arsenal were much the superior side.

Pires, Henry and susbtitute Dennis Bergkamp all went close for the Gunners, while Juventus continued to toil up the field.

But an inadvertent interception by referee Vitor Manuel Melo Pereira started the move for Arsenal's third goal in the 87th minute.

The official broke up a Juventus attack and started an Arsenal drive, which saw Ljungberg feed Bergkamp on the edge of the visitors' penalty box.

The Dutchman twisted and turned before feeding a precise ball to Ljungberg, who lobbed the ball past Buffon to complete a great night.

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Arsenal: Taylor, Lauren, Upson, Campbell, Cole, Ljungberg, Vieira, Parlour, Pires; Kanu, Henry

Juventus: Buffon, Thuram, Montero, Birindelli, Pessotto, Zambrotta, Tudor, Tacchinardi, Nedved, Del Piero, Trezeguet

Referee: Vitor Manuel Melo Pereira (Portugal)