Final score: Sparta Prague 0 Arsenal 1

90 mins: After three minutes of stoppage time the referee blows his whistle to give Arsenal a dream start in the Champions' League.

88 mins: It's backs to the wall for Arsenal as challenges come flying in to stop Sparta. Grygera's long throw is headed out by Dixon.

86 mins: Sparta are desperately looking to lift themselves for one last time but Vieira is in fine form in the middle and is cutting out everything they throw at him.

83 mins: Wiltord's neat turn gives Arsenal an excellent chance but the French striker delays too long and his ball finds Silvinho clean through but offside.

81 mins: Silvinho continues to terrorise the Sparta defence down the left but his cross is too high for Wiltord.

79 mins: Josef Obajin is released down the left and his dipping volley from a tight angle flashes over the cross bar.

78 mins: Nelson Vivas comes on to replace Ljungberg.

77 mins: Papousek comes off to be replaced by Martin Prohaszka.

75 mins: Grygera pulls the ball back but Gilles Grimandi is there to cover.

74 mins: Wiltord is thrust straight into the action down on the left but his cross is poor.

73 mins: Sylvain Wiltord comes on to replace Henry.

70 mins: Arsenal seem to be slowing the game down realising they are on the verge of a special win.

68 mins: Vieira gives away a free-kick in a dangerous position on the right but Sparta fail to use it and Arsenal clear.

66 mins: Arsenal have a corner but Silvinho's delivery is poor and the ball is cleared at the front post.

65 mins: Sparta seem to be running out of steam and out of ideas as they try to find the key to unlock the Arsenal defence.

62 mins: Kanu flicks a long ball on to Henry but the ball drops kindly for the goalkeeper.

61 mins: Vieira gives a free-kick away with a late challenge.

59 mins: Kincl is replaced by Siegl to the cheers of the home crowd.

58 mins: Grygera attacks down the left but his ball into the penalty area is easily dealt with.

56 mins: Sparta on a counter-attack so nearly equalise when Papousek strikes a fierce shot into the side netting.

52 mins: Sparta keeper Postulka easily catches an Arsenal corner and immediately sends the home side on the counter-attack.

49 mins: Grygera combines with Rosicky to free Kincl who goes down in the penalty area under a Lee Dixon challenge but the referee doesn't want to have anything to do with the penalty appeals.

48 mins: Vieira cuts out a pass to Tomas Rosicky and releases Henry who in turn give sthe ball back to Vieiria who cannot control.

46 mins: The match restarts with Arsenal looking to hold their lead.

45 mins: Silvinho breaks and his early cross in search of Henry is cut out by Pavel Novotny. Ljungberg's cross drifts towards goal and catches Postulka unaware and he turns it over for a corner. The referee signals the end of a highly satisfactory half for the Gunners.

43 mins: Papousek threatens on the right and his ball his headed straight to Jiri Novotny but he cannot make use of the ball and Arsenal clear.

40 mins: Seaman collects the ball after a good piece of defending by Keown under pressure.

37 mins: The goal has lifted Arsenal and it's Kanu's turn to pepper the Sparta goal with a 25-yard shot.

36 mins: Henry now finds himself isolated up front and is forced to shoot giving Postulka the goalkeeper few worries.

33 mins: GOAL SILVINHO - The Brazilian full-back jinks his way around countless players before lifting the ball over the sprawling keeper to score in off the post. The all-important goal comes against the run of play.

33 mins: Pires gets to the by-line and is able to hold the ball up for support.

32 mins: Jiri Novotny gets in snap shot forcing Seaman into a fine save as Sparta begin to get the upper hand.

31 mins: Sparta force another corner when Silvinho was again forced to clear the ball.

29 mins: Jiri Novotny spears the ball into the box from a corner but David Seaman watches it go harmlessly wide.

28 mins: Silvinho is forced to put a deep cross away for a corner to Sparta.

27 mins: Zdenek Svoboda collects the ball on the right but the Arsenal defence closes him down.

26 mins: Papousek finds himself in a good position but his delivery into the Arsenal box is poor.

24 mins: Pavel Novotny toys with Ljungberg but his tricks soon get the better of himself and the ball goes to touch.

20 mins: The best chance of the night so far falls to Henry, but his header from a Fredrik Ljungberg cross is wide.

18 mins: Petr Papousek makes a run down the Arsenal right but he loses out to Lee Dixon.

15 mins: The shot comes in from Henry but it is comfortably saved by Postulka

14 mins: Nwankwo Kanu's clever turn wins a free-kick for Arsenal 30-yards out after a foul by Jiri Novotny.

13 mins: A long ball forward is knocked down by Henry but there are no Arsenal players in support.

12 mins: Sparta go forward again in what is proving to be an open game, but they are found off-side by Arsenal's reliable defence.

10 mins: Marek Kincl goes through to prove Sparta are not going to let Arsenal have things all their own way but he scoops his shot over the bar.

9 mins: Thierry Henry wins a free-kick midway inside the Sparta half and the Gunners win a corner from the kick.

7 mins: Pires continues his and Arsenal's promising start with another run but his pass to Patrick Vieira is cut out.

4 mins: Robert Pires makes a powerful run into the danger area but is stopped in his tracks.

2 mins: Martin Keown is lucky not to be booked for a late tackle.

1 mins: French referee Gilles Veissiere blows the whistle to signal the start of Arsenal's Champions' League campaign.