Champions League greatness may have to wait a while yet, but Arsenal are at least steadily inching their way to the knockout stages of the competition.

Their progress may not yet be as convincing as Arsene Wenger would like, in being held to a second draw against Ajax in just over a week - but this was a model of cautious rather than cavalier football in Amsterdam.

In fact the real boost to Arsenal's fortunes came in Spain with a shock victory for Roma against Valencia - which has left the Gunners in control of their own fortunes.

Indeed, victory at home to Roma next week could even be enough to secure Arsenal's qualification, although they may still require a hard-earned point in their final group game in Spain.

Wenger had spoken on the eve of this return fix of his Arsenal team being remembered as one of the great European sides of all time.

Further proof is still required, with the visitors indebted to Ashley Cole for clearing a free-kick off his own line.

However, Arsenal showed the resolution and patience to hold their ground in the face of second half pressure from Ajax and they must now transform their European fortunes at Highbury.

Wenger was at least missing only Fredrik Ljungberg from his possible first-choice line-up, with the Swede due to continue his rehabilitation from an Achilles injury in the reserves.

With David Seaman and Cole fit to return after missing last weekend's 5-1 win at Manchester City, Martin Keown for Pascal Cygan was the only change from last week's side.

Ajax, meanwhile, were again without key attacking midfielder Rafael van de Vaart, while former Liverpool favourite Jari Litmanen was also still out injured.

They made just one change to their Highbury line-up, with experienced midfielder Richard Witschge coming into the side in place of Jelle van Damme.

Arsenal's European campaign has so far been sustained by their away form, with their first result on their European travels - a 4-0 win at PSV Eindhoven - setting the tone.

That was the last time Dennis Bergkamp, who does not fly, travelled by road to an away European game but he was back at his former club as a pivotal figure in Arsenal's plans.

Having received a warm reception, he was immediately in the thick of the action, combining with Sylvain Wiltord to set up Thierry Henry for an early effort which was saved at full stretch by Bogdan Lobont.

Ajax, who had concentrated on frustrating Arsenal at Highbury, were showing few signs of changing those tactics and were again using Zlatan Ibrahimovic as their only advanced striker.

That put the onus on Arsenal, who tend to thrive on counter-attacking, to make the most of the early running.

While Gilberto and Wiltord both fired long-range efforts wide, the visitors were otherwise faced with a packed defensive line to overcome.

The young Ajax side did at least start to play the ball about with increasing confidence and their first effort, from Ibrahimovic on 25 minutes, deflected off Keown before bouncing wide.

However, Arsenal were largely left to play the ball around near the halfway line as they tried to draw Ajax on to them.

Still the openings failed to materialise though as the cagey approach continued, with even Bergkamp being harried into tamely shooting wide from almost 30 yards out.

The Dutchman was also off target from a wider angle after Arsenal had finally managed to create a half-chance when Robert Pires had nutmegged the obdurate Tomas Galasek.

And then Ajax keeper Lobont managed to deny Vieira as the Arsenal captain slid in to meet a low cross.

The visitors still had to remain weary, however, especially after conceding a free-kick on the edge of their penalty area, with Cole heading Cristian Chivu's effort off his own line.

News that Roma had taken a surprise 3-0 half-time lead away to Valencia put a different light on Arsenal's game, given that a draw would be far more favourable if the result stays the same in Spain.

Arsenal still kept Ajax waiting for the start of the second half, emerging a couple of minutes later than the home side onto the pitch.

Wenger's team were also immediately under pressure as Ajax adopted a far more positive attitude, with Ibrahimovic looking sure to convert Steven Pienaar's low cross only for his shot to be deflected over the bar.

The visitors were definitely on the back foot, although Henry did threaten with a free-kick which was tipped over the top.

Arsenal's response followed, with Ray Parlour and Francis Jeffers coming on for Bergkamp and Wiltord, with Giovanni van Bronckhorst following later.

The Dutchman even sent a dangerous cross across the face of the Ajax penalty area - but otherwise both sides seemed relatively happy to settle for a draw as the match rather petered out in the latter stages.

Teams

Ajax: Lobont, Maxwell, Chivu, Pasanen, Trabelsi, Witschge, Pienaar (Sneijder 90), Galasek (Yakubu 70), De Jong, Van der Meyde, Ibrahimovic (Mido 84).

Subs Not Used: Didulica, Bergdolmo, Van Damme, Boukhari.

Arsenal: Seaman, Cole, Campbell, Keown, Lauren, Pires (van Bronckhorst 86), Silva, Vieira, Wiltord (Parlour 79), Bergkamp (Jeffers 79), Henry.

Subs Not Used: Taylor, Edu, Cygan, Toure.

Booked: Cole, Vieira.

Att: 51,500

Ref: Valentin Ivanov (Russia).