Ajax frustrate Arsenal in Highbury stalemate

Arsenal missed the chance to take a giant step towards the quarter-finals of the Champions League when Ajax Amsterdam held out for a 1-1 draw at Higbury on Tuesday.

Sylvain Wiltord fired the English champions into an early lead but the goal was quickly cancelled out by Nigel De Jong.

The draw left both sides with five points from three matches in Group B of the second phase. Arsenal will meet the Dutch champions again next Wednesday.

Arsenal, who have now drawn their last three Champions League home games, flew out of the blocks and were ahead after five minutes. Patrick Vieira's ball forward found Dennis Bergkamp, who quickly released Wiltord down the right flank.

The French striker had acres of space to attack the Ajax goal and coolly slotted home between keeper Bogdan Lobont's legs.

Ajax, bright and inventive, were quick to respond and levelled on 17 minutes. Tomas Galasek's diagonal pass picked out Nigel De Jong and the teenager eased away from Ashley Cole to score.

Arsenal, who lost goalkeper David Seaman to a hip injury at halftime to be replaced by Stuart Taylor, pressed forward after the break but lacked a decisive cutting edge.