The strikers may be rotated but Arsenal's ability to commit the same cardinal sin of allowing a commanding lead to slip in Europe remains as worryingly evident as ever.

With the Champions League quarter-finals hovering into sight after Dennis Bergkamp's controversial 34th-minute strike, Arsenal came within a couple of minutes of their second 1-0 win against Lyon in the space of eight days.

However, just as they had allowed a 2-0 lead to slip against Bayern Munich in their opening group game, so the Gunners dropped another two points.

This time it was an 89th-minute equaliser by Edmilson that cost Arsenal dearly and left them probably needing to clinch a result in Munich in their final group game, as well as beating Spartak Moscow at home, to go through.

The Brazilian's celebrations were understandable given that he looked to have been clearly fouled in the build-up to Bergkamp's goal and came close to joining Arsenal last summer before the controversy over compatriot Edu.

Even more importantly for Lyon, his header from a corner also resurrected the French side's own hopes of qualifying at Arsenal's expense after they had appeared to have been in tatters.

For if Kanu's frustration at being left on the bench until the final seven minutes after an outburst by his agent at his lack of first team chances was not enough, he had witnessed his replacement, Bergkamp, giving Arsenal the lead.

Bergkamp had not even travelled to France for last week's European tie but even after an unconvincing display against Chelsea, he still kept his place against Lyon this time around.

The French side certainly started brightly enough, throwing numbers forward into attack and an early free-kick by Sonny Anderson flashed past David Seaman's upright.

Their domination did not last long, with Robert Pires shooting wide from a tight angle and Lee Dixon's cross flicked into the path of Ray Parlour by Bergkamp for the midfielder to volley against the outside of the post.

Otherwise, however, despite the intermittent threat of Thierry Henry, Arsenal were only coming to life in fits and starts with their fluent approach work lacking the final ball.

Lyon again found their rhythm and a loose pass in his own penalty area by Gilles Grimandi resulted in Henry tangling with Philippe Violeau, who went sprawling.

No penalty was awarded and Steve Marlet thundered the loose ball into the side netting, but if Arsenal were fortunate on that occasion, it was nothing compared to their luck in taking the lead.

Pires' through-ball was astute but Bergkamp appeared to have realised he had been beaten for pace by Edmilson until he shoulder-charged the Brazilian aside.

While Lyon appealed for a free-kick that seemed certain to come, Bergkamp carried on and curled a superb shot past keeper Gregory Coupet and referee Michel Lubos signalled a goal.

The French side reacted with as much disbelief as anger, but Arsenal were ahead and Lyon escaped a claim for a penalty against them just after the interval as Grimandi's volley cannoned into Marlet at close range.

There was perilously little consistency shown though as, when Edmilson returned the favour to Bergkamp, a free-kick was awarded.

Otherwise, Arsenal were left hanging on. And having allowed that 2-0 lead to slip at home to Bayern as well as a recent 1-0 advantage against Chelsea in the Premier League, the crowd were taking nothing for granted.

It looked for a long period as though those worries would prove unfounded, even though Marlet produced a sharp turn but shot over the bar, while Pierre Laigle, Violeau and Sidney Govou also threatened.

For Henry brought a smart save out of keeper Coupet at the other end and while Lyon had considerable possession, they were still failing to create clear-cut chances.

With Sylvain Wiltord at first replacing Bergkamp and then Lauren coming on for Pires, Kanu only made a late introduction instead of Henry.

However, he made little impact in such a short space of time and it was Lauren whose late header was cleared off the line as Arsenal looked home and dry.

That was reckoning without Edmilson's dramatic intervention in the 89th-minute though as an Arsenal defence missing both Tony Adams and Martin Keown allowed him to head home from a corner.

Arsenal's Champions League campaign is not yet over, but while Leeds' superb adventure goes from strength to strength, the Gunners are up against it now.

And they only have themselves to blame.

Teams

Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon, Grimandi, Luzhny, Cole, Ljungberg, Vieira, Parlour, Pires (Lauren 80), Henry (Kanu 83), Bergkamp (Wiltord 71).

Subs Not Used: Manninger, Malz, Upson, Vivas.

Booked: Lauren, Vieira.

Goals: Bergkamp 33.

Lyon: Coupet, Deflandre, Edmilson, Muller, Brechet, Govou (Loko 78), Foe (Linares 66), Violeau, Laigle (Dhorasoo 66), Anderson, Marlet.

Subs Not Used: Hugues, Delmotte, Malbranque, Cacapa.

Booked: Marlet, Edmilson, Foe, Muller.

Goals: Edmilson 90.

Att: 34,303

Ref: Lubos Michel (Slovakia).