Wherever Arsenal play, controversy seems to follow. Not one of their five games this season has ended with 22 players and the early dismissal of Ashley Cole last night ensured their Champions League campaign got off to the worst possible start in Palma.

Real Mallorca's goal came from the penalty Cole conceded to prompt the 36th sending-off of Arsene Wenger's reign and only David Seaman kept the score down as Arsenal struggled going forward.

Arsenal did not expect an easy time against a team that finished third in the Spanish League last season, ahead of Barcelona and the Champions League runners-up Valencia, And the evening could hardly have got off to a worse start.

Within a dozen minutes they were not only a goal down but had lost Cole, the England left-back. Playing pacy, technically adroit opponents who had beaten Barcelona and Real Madrid here last term looked difficult in any event. Now they had to cope with 10 men.

Cole's dismissal by the Danish referee Knud Erik Fisker had come for. a clumsy challenge on Alberto Luque as the striker ran on to a pass from Ariel Ibagaza, and was left with only Seaman to beat from eight yards.

As the last defender, Cole could have few complaints and Vicente Engonga chipped the resulting penalty into the centre of Seaman's net. For the fifth successive time this season a match involving Arsenal would not end with 22 players.

Beforehand both sides had stood around the centre circle for a minute's silence, held as a mark of respect for the terrorist victims in the United States. UEFA is to make a statement this morning about whether tonight and tomorrow night's European ties will go ahead as planned.

"We will continue to closely monitor security developments within Europe," said UEFA's chief executive Gerhard Aigner.

There was talk of last night's fixtures being postponed in the light of events in the US but a UEFA spokesman said those clubs who had been in touch had wanted the matches to be played. "Fans are arriving at grounds and arrangements are in place," said UEFA's director of communications Mike Lee. "It is safer to go ahead."

The Mallorca supporters were certainly excited by their club's first appearance in 'the Champions League, though this neat, 23,500-capacity stadium was not quite full.

Once Cole had gone the islanders saw their side come close to extending the lead several times before half-time. Twice Seaman did well to keep shots out.

Arsenal, who reorganised by pushing Giovanni van Bronckhorst to left-back, did not manage an effort of note until the 45th minute through Sylvain Wiltord.

They had started with a clear intent of going on the offensive against an ageing backline, mindful no doubt of how a lack of ambition had cost them in last season's quarter-final against Valencia.