Published: August 24, 2010
They join Real Madrid and Valencia, last year’s finalists, as the first qualifiers.Luck had seemed against Arsenal from the moment Seaman and Adams were ruled out with back injuries less than three hours before kick-off. Arsenal have become increasing used to doing without Adams, but with Alex Manninger still incapacitated with a knee injury Seaman’s absence meant Lukic was forced to play his first match since March 1997.Lukic, 40 in December, became the oldest player to take part in the Champions’ League. His return recalled unhappy memories of his last appearance in the competition eight years ago. Then he punched a corner into his own net as Leeds United were knocked out by Rangers and, 58 minutes into last night’s match, a repeat seemed imminent as Sinisa Mihajlovic’s corner dropped over him to strike the inside of the far post. However, it bounced out and television replays revealed Marcelo Salas to have guided it on to the woodwork with his hand.Arsenal, who are now unbeaten in 12 matches since their opening day defeat at Sunderland, had begun brightly. Vieira, who had been linked in the morning with a move to Lazio in the Roman press, was dominant in midfield and Thierry Henry a nuisance in attack, but the early chances fell to a wasteful Grimandi.Lazio responded with a Nedved cross which screamed in vain for an attacker’s caress, but Arsenal then seemed to have their measure until Lazio received a slice of luck so outrageous one wondered whether their recent Papal blessing had prompted divine intervention.A pass into the box by Juan Veron found its way towards Nedved but, as he went to control it, Silvinho attempted to hack clear. The ball looped up out of the challenge, arched slowly over Lukic, and in off the crossbar.
As jammy as a dodger.They all count the same though, fluke or stunner, and Arsenal now needed a goal of their own Silvinho nearly delivered. Exploiting a misjudgement by Dejan Stankovic he skipped into the box, eluding Alessandro Nesta before attempting to scoop the ball over Angelo Peruzzi. The ball bounced off the keeper’s chest to Nwankwo Kanu but the Nigerian’s back-flick rolled wide.Though Lukic had to make a sharp save from a Mihajlovic free-kick, Arsenal finished the half the more dominant side, but Lazio were revived by the break and should have settled the tie within a minute of the restart.Yet Inzaghi, preferred ahead of £54m pair, Hernan Crespo and Claudio Lopez, dragged his shot wide after being sent clear. With Nedved also going close with a flying header Arsenal were hanging on, but they survived.Wenger threw on his forwards, one by one, and with the seconds ticking away they repaid his faith as Sylvain Wiltord’s long ball dropped over Nesta’s head and Pires ran through to score with aplomb. Lazio tore forward and seemed to have scored as, after Vieira blocked a Salas shot, Lee Dixon’s clearance cannoned off Wiltord into the net. However, Crespo was been penalised for dangerous play and Arsenal went through.Lazio (4-4-2): Peruzzi; Negro, Mihajlovic, Nesta, Pancaro; Stankovic (Lopez, h-t), Veron, Simeone, Nedved; Inzaghi (Crespo, 68) Salas. Substitutes not used: Marchegiani (gk), Baronio, Favalli, Couto, Lombardo.Arsenal (4-4-1-1): Lukic; Dixon, Luzhny, Keown, Silvinho; Parlour (Pires, 59), Grimandi (Lauren, 69), Vieira, Ljungberg (Wiltord, 73); Kanu; Henry.
Substitutes not used: Taylor (gk), Adams, Vivas, Cole.Referee: H Krug (Germany).. Aston Villa’s central defender Ugo Ehiogu finally looks set to quit the midlands club in a £8million move to Middlesbrough. Aston Villa’s central defender Ugo Ehiogu finally looks set to quit the midlands club in a £8million move to Middlesbrough.
Ehiougu, who has been out of favour at Villa after falling out with manager John Gregory, had been stalling on the deal until the confusion over European transfer regulations was sorted out.However, the former England player now looks set for a move to Teeside; he watched their 3-1 defeat against Newcastle and his agent has had talks with the club.Ehiogu, 27, has only played one match this season, he said: “I’ve always wanted to play football and that hasn’t changed. It’s not happening at Villa now which is why I’m keen to move elsewhere.”If the deal does go through, then West Bromwich Albion will get around £3 million as part of a sell on clause.. There was no ring of steel or gauntlet of hate, no gruesome running of fingers across throats and not one voice raised in anger yesterday as Leeds United returned to Turkey’s footballing capital for tonight’s Champions’ League tussle with Besiktas.