Carew the toast of Valencia as Arsenal hit on the double

Valencia 2 Arsenal 1

It was a case of deja vu as the Norwegian striker, who two years ago scored the goal which knocked out the Gunners in the quarter-finals, gave the Spaniards the lead after 33 minutes. Although Thierry Henry put Arsenal level four minutes after the break, Carew headed the winner after 57 minutes to send Valencia through from Group B along with Ajax. Both sides played neat, passing football, but neither of them could create a clear-cut opening in the early stages. Vieira was a booking away from being suspended for the next match, assuming Arsenal progressed, and he was walking a tightrope when he fouled Rufete in the 22nd minute. Fortunately the foul occurred near the halfway line and the referee took no action other than to award the Spaniards a free-kick.

Arsenal were denied the opening goal in the 29th minute by a combination of a goalline clearance and the woodwork.

Wiltord won a corner on the right as he chipped the ball over Canizares from the right angle of the six-yard box, only for Fabian Ayala to block the effort and send it behind.

Henry delivered the cross and Gilberto met it with a thundering header which hit the head of Vicente on the line before hitting the crossbar.

The Gunners had won just one of their last eight Champions League matches and were attempting to reach the last eight for the second time, but their hopes were on the rocks as Valencia took the lead after 33 minutes and it was that man Carew who made the breakthrough.

Aimar fed the ball through and the big Norwegian drilled a low shot inside Stuart Taylor's left-hand post to claim his 12th goal of the season.

Arsenal were pinned back as Valencia were lifted by their fans and teased the Londoners particularly down their left flank, weakened by the absence of England full-back Ashley Cole. Rufete and Carew both caused problems but the defence held out until the break.

Vieira ruled himself out Arsenal's next game when he was booked after 42 minutes to make his team's night even worse.

Arsenal tried to lift themselves after the restart and within three minutes they won a free-kick on the left, level with the 18-yard box.

They piled bodies into the area but Henry went for goal with a shot which flew beyond the far post.

However, the Frenchman showed his supreme class after 49 minutes when he pounced on a Pires through ball down the left and instinctively curled the ball inside the far post from just inside the box.

Suddenly Arsenal were alive again thanks to Henry's seventh Champions League goal of the season, all of them away from Highbury.

Wenger had challenged Taylor to prove he can become the long-term successor to David Seaman at Highbury, and the 22-year-old did himself proud after 56 minutes.

Vicente crossed from the left and Carew stooped to head the ball goalwards from six yards, but Taylor flung himself to his left to push the ball to safety. However, the former England Under-21 goalkeeper failed to repeat the act a minute later as Valencia took the lead.

Vicente again crossed from the left and when Carew won the downward header Taylor could only help the ball into the far corner of the net. Sanchez was replaced by Miguel Angel Angulo after 67 minutes, then Valencia suffered a blow as Canizares fell awkwardly and was carried off on a stretcher two minutes later, with Andres Palop replacing him.

Arsenal were handed a chance to get back into the game when they won a free-kick in a central position just four yards outside the Valencia area. Pires ran over the ball and left it for Henry, but he curled his effort wide of the wall and the goalkeeper's left post.

Campbell was struggling to keep up with Carew. Then, with five minutes remaining, Angulo went on a jinking run but slotted his shot wide.

Wenger introduced Kanu for Tore in a bid to find the equaliser, but the big Nigerian could not make an impact in the four minutes which remained.

Valencia killed time as Carew went off to a standing ovation with two minutes remaining, replaced by Carlos Marchena.

By then the Norwegian had done his night's work and Arsenal's Champions League dreams were in tatters once again, and the night ended with Pires being booked for diving in the penalty area in injury time.

VALENCIA: Canizares, Reveillere, Ayala, Carboni, Albelda, Pellegrino, Rufete, Vicente, Aimar, Sanchez, Carew.

ARSENAL: Taylor, Lauren, Campbell, Cygan, Toure, Ljungberg, Silva, Vieira, Pires, Wiltord, Henry.