Wenger hails Fab display as young Guns sparkle in Prague

ARSENAL moved a step closer to the lucrative group stages of the Champions League with a 2-0 away victory over Sparta Prague last night.

On the ground where Thierry Henry became the club’s all-time record goalscorer two seasons ago, the next generation of young Gunners looked to begin a new chapter.

Goals from Cesc Fabregas and Alexander Hleb, in stoppage time overcame tough opponents and a partisan crown at the AXA Stadium.

For long spells, Arsenal were on the back foot, and had goalkeeper Jens Lehmann — guilty of a terrible blunder against Fulham on Sunday — to thank when he deflected Jan Rezek’s early effort onto the post and then denied Libor Dosek late on.

Arsene Wenger hailed the never-say-die attitude of his side: “I’m very proud. We needed to work until the final minute and they did that.

“It is vital (to be in the Champions League proper) but not for the financial reviews people say. We want to be with the best.”

The Frenchman hailed the contribution of Fabregas.

“He scored tonight and I think the goals will come from him,” Wenger said. “He’s only 20 and he’s always in positions to score goals. He’s getting better in every game.”

Sparta had started brightly, and on nine minutes, the home side almost snatched the lead.

Pavel Horvath looped the ball over towards the far post, Jan Rezek arrived late and sent a low shot back across goal. Lehmann threw out a foot and managed to deflect the ball onto the post and it bounced clear.

At the other end, Fabregas tried his luck from 20 yards and keeper Tomas Postulka made a decent save.

After that early scare, Arsenal enjoyed more possession. A foul on full-back Bacary Sagna gave the visitors a free kick 22 yards out to the right. Robin van Persie struck his effort well but it was straight at the keeper.

Then Lehmann was out bravely to block at the feet of Rezek at the edge of his penalty area, with left-back Gael Clichy making the clearance from the loose ball.

Arsenal looked vulnerable on the counter attack and Sparta’s beanpole striker Dosek flashed a header wide in the closing moments of the first half.

Arsenal began to exert more an influence as the second half went on. Van Persie struck a low shot across goal which Postulka parried following good work by former Sparta midfielder Tomas Rosicky down the left.

Just after the hour, van Persie weaved down the left side of the box and chipped the ball across goal, only for it to be put behind by Kladrubsky – with Emmanuel Eboue lurking at the far post.

This was now the Gunners best spell, as they forced a succession of corners but the visitors were unable to find the right pass in promising positions.

Then, out of nothing, Arsenal snatched a crucial away goal on 72 minutes. Clichy picked up the ball 25 yards out, skipped past two defenders before slipping a square pass to Fabregas, who made no mistake from just inside the box.

Arsenal then had to soak up plenty of pressure, Lehmann touching an angled drive Marek Kulic behind.

The German then produced another good save to keep out a Dosek header.

Sparta felt they had a penalty claim when Abraham went down under a challenge from Fabregas.

Arsenal held out, though, and gave themselves a two-goal cushion when Hleb scored seconds from the end after an impressive run by Sagna down the left from Lehmann’s quick throw.

SPARTA PRAGUE: Postulka, Repka (Brezinsky 36), Kadlec, Kladrubsky, Abraham, Husek, Horvath (Limbersky 86), Pospech, Dosek, Kulic, Rezek (Matusovic 59).

ARSENAL: Lehmann, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Eboue, Flamini, Fabregas, Rosicky (Song Billong 80), Hleb, Van Persie. Ref: Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain).