Arsenal show patience to earn perfect start

Arsenal have responded positively to the rhetoric of manager Arsene Wenger as they carved out a patient 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in their opening Champions League first phase match at Highbury.

Wenger has insisted his English double winners can secure the north London club's first ever European Cup this season, and goals from Dennis Bergkamp and fit-again Fredrik Ljungberg gave them a perfect start against the Bundesliga champions.

If Dutchman Bergkamp's deflected opener after 62 minutes was fortunate, the strike from Ljungberg 13 minutes from time was executed with the sort of panache that has seen them go 27 games unbeaten in the English premier league.

Goalkeeper David Seaman began the move in his own area, and the ball was moved through Sylvain Wiltord and Thierry Henry before Ljungberg -- making his first appearance of the season after hip surgery -- darted through the middle to round keeper Jens Lehmann and finish into an empty net.

Arsenal's starting side had looked full of invention with the surprise inclusion of Ljungberg and it was he who created the home side's best chance of the first half.

Winning the ball in a 32nd minute midfield tussle, Ljungberg found Henry in space who in turn fed Wiltord, but the forward betrayed the surpreme touch that has brought him six goals in six premier league matches so far this term. His hesitation allowed Lehmann to rush off his line to make an excellent save.

Prior to that sight of goal, Arsenal had flattered to deceive, with only Henry's 26th minute snapshot -- again well stopped by Lehmann, plunging low to his right -- a tangible sign of their hard work.

With five men in midfield Dortmund were as steely as the character of manager Matthias Sammer would suggest, but they could not match the poise with which Sammer the player had helped Dortmund to the Champions League title in 1997.

Their first half highlights were restricted largely to long range efforts, although Juan Ramon Fernandez's swerving shot had Seaman beaten but the ball flew just over.

The visitors were soon on the back foot after halftime, as Henry had a strike disallowed for offside, but the breakthrough was not long in coming.

Just after the hour, Wiltord skipped inside before finding Bergkamp, who at first looked to have lost control. But he dug the ball out of his feet on the edge of the area and directed a shot goalwards which deflected off Christoph Metzelder and past Lehmann.

Henry was having a frustrating night and he blazed wide 15 minutes from time, but he made amends by setting up Ljungberg two minutes later as Dortmund committed players forward in search of an equaliser.

Ljungberg said even he was surprised to start the match.

"I've just trained a week but it was a bit of a surprise to start," said the Swede.

"I thought I would last 60 minutes but I lasted a bit longer. I was delighted, it was nice to show that I can still play football."