Arsenal complete dramatic group turnaround

Arsenal 2 Lokomotiv Moscow 0

Arsenal 2 Lokomotiv Moscow 0

Robert Pires and Freddie Ljungberg combined to book Arsenal a place in the Champions League knock-out stages.

The midfield duo scored either side of the interval to seal a comfortable 2-0 win over Lokomotiv Moscow, who had Jacob Lekcetho sent off, and earn the Gunners top spot in Group B.

Arsene Wenger's men put any doubts about their staying power in Europe's premier club competition to one side as early as the 12th minute when Pires latched on to a Thierry Henry pass to shoot powerfully beyond Sergei Ovchinnikov.

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Dennis Bergkamp had tried to raise the Highbury roof moments earlier with an ambitious chip.

Lokomotiv offered little in terms of an attacking force and skipper Dmitri Loskov twice wasted good opportunities to deliver.

Dmitri Khokhlov almost snatched an unlikely equaliser but his snap shot lacked direction.

Bergkamp then went for the spectacular at the other end but his curling effort was also off the intended target.

Henry missed by the smallest of margins in Arsenal's next attack, while Freddie Ljungberg also came close with a first-time shot.

A deliberate block on Bergkamp by Vadim Eseem presented the home side with their next opportunity but Patrick Vieira fired wide after Ovchinnikov had parried Henry's free-kick into his range.

The first half ended in dramatic circumstances when Jacob Lekcetho was sent off for a second caution.

Kolo Toure twice attempted to break the net after the restart, while Vieira also shot high before substitute Winston Parks robbed Ashley Cole only to shoot straight at  Jens Lehmann as Lokomotiv threatened.

Pires and Ljungberg both tried their luck and Bergkamp then headed wide as Arsenal moved up the gears. But Swedish star Ljungberg made no mistake not long after when he rounded off an incisive move with a neat clip over Ovchinnikov.

Kanu was brought on to beef up Arsenal's attacking options late on but Lehmann had to be alert to tip a dangerous Sergei Gurenko shot around the post.