Rosenborg 1-1 Arsenal

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP E Champions League photos Arsenal match reaction

Arsenal were held to a frustrating draw by Rosenborg in Norway, despite Freddie Ljungberg's early opener.

The Swedish midfielder turned and fired the Gunners ahead inside six minutes, but Arsene Wenger's side were pegged back by Roar Strand's strike.

Strand superbly drilled home Oyvind Storflor's cut-back on 52 minutes and Arsenal were unable to respond.

Thierry Henry and Jose Antonio Reyes both went close but the Norwegian champions held on defiantly.

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It was a disappointing result for Wenger to stomach after the Gunners had made such a positive start.

Henry menacingly ran at the Rosenborg defence and when goalkeeper Espen Johnsen shoveled his shot around a post it proved only a temporary reprieve.

From the resulting Henry corner, Sol Campbell helped the ball into the path of Ljungberg, who spun and cracked home a left-foot shot from six yards.

The goal saw Ljungberg become the first Arsenal player to score in the Champions League this season after Rodrigo Alex's own goal had decided the opening group game against PSV Eindhoven.

Arsenal goalscorer Ljungberg takes on Rosenborg's Storflor

The early strike also hinted at an opening of the floodgates. Instead, what followed was a disjointed first half of loose passes and few chances.

Ljungberg looked well placed for his and Arsenal's second but unselfishly looked to pick out Robert Pires rather than shoot and saw his cut-back smothered by the Rosenborg defence.

Buoyed by Arsenal's inability to build on their early goal, the home side came out with renewed vigour in the second half.

Arsenal survived an early scare when Campbell's mis-placed clearance fell to Strand, whose shot was blocked by Ashley Cole.

The Gunners failed to read the warning signs however and Rosenborg clinically drew level on 52 minutes.

A swift break allowed Storflor space down the left and he superbly cut the ball back for Strand to sidefoot firmly beyond the reach of Jens Lehmann in the Arsenal goal and claim his 10th European goal for Rosenborg.

Have Your Say Your reaction to Arsenal's draw

The equaliser stung Arsenal back to life as Wenger's side reacted positively to the setback.

The Gunners' best move of the game saw Campbell set Cole free with a defence splitting pass and the defender's cut-back was dummied by Pires, only for Ljungberg to screw a shoot well wide.

Reyes, whose game consisted of the sublime and the ridiculous in equal measures, lashed a shot into the side netting and Henry and then Patrick Vieira both went close as Arsenal increased the pressure.

Edu also saw a curling shot flash wide as the home side defended deeper and deeper, but as Arsenal's frustration grew they always looked vulnerable on the break.

The Gunners might have snatched victory in injury-time when Henry's shot was juggled by goalkeeper Johnsen, but Rosenborg's brave defiance merited a share of the points.

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Rosenborg: Espen Johnsen, Basma (Russell 74), Riseth, Hoftun, Dorsin, Strand (George 64), Solli, Winsnes, Brattbakk (Braaten 82), Storflor, Frode Johnsen.
Subs Not Used: Ronningen, Torjus Hansen, Stensaas, Helstad.

Arsenal: Lehmann, Lauren, Toure, Campbell, Cole, Ljungberg, Vieira, Edu, Pires (Van Persie 82), Henry, Reyes.
Subs Not Used: Almunia, Fabregas, Flamini, Cygan, Pennant, Clichy.

Att: 21,100

Ref: Florian Meyer (Germany).