Ajax make their point as Gunners fail to deliver
Sylvain Wiltord coolly slotted Arsenal ahead after just five minutes after a link between Patrick Vieira and Dennis Bergkamp opened up the Ajax defence.
The Dutch double winners came back with a well-taken 18th minute equaliser by Nigel de Jong.
Ajax reached Highbury just 45 minutes before designated kick-off time and they were slowly into their stride as Arsenal took early control.
Bergkamp lofted in a cross which Patrick Vieira met with a forceful downward header which bounced only just wide and it was no surprise when the Gunners grabbed the lead after just five minutes when Vieira broke up a tame Ajax attack and put Bergkamp away down the centre.
He looked up and saw Sylvain Wiltord galloping into acres of space on the right, sliding a simple pass that invited Wiltord to cut in and finish clinically with his second goal in two games after a long personal drought.
Cristian Chivu did well to prevent Henry racing onto another intelligent ball in the 13th minute, cutting it out 12 yards from goal. Henry tried again, this time from the right flank a minute later but his rising left-foot drive from 25 yards was off the mark.
The visitors’ first threat was a cross-shot from the left by Andy van der Meyde and it was a major surprise when Ajax equalised in the 17th minute.
Ashley Cole was over-committed trying to cut out a pass from Jelle van Damme and Nigel de Jong was able to swerve away from him and curl a shot beyond David Seaman.
Arsenal’s defenders suddenly looked uncertain and it was all that Sol Campbell and Lauren could do between them to stop the elusive Maxwell squirming past them and into the area.
Then Seaman had to smother a long shot by Zlatan Ibrahimovic before Robert Pires brought some relief with a blocked shot at the other end.
There was another Arsenal alarm when, after Gilberto over-elaborated and allowed a promising raid to break down, Pascal Cygan was outpaced by South African Steve Pienaar and Pires had to get back and save the situation with a timely tackle.
Pires soon figured again as an attacker, curling his shot not far wide in the 34th minute.
Seven minutes before the break, Pires was left with an outstanding chance after linking up with Bergkamp, but was possibly foiled by a divot on the heavy-looking pitch and skied his shot way over the bar.
There was a shock for Arsenal fans when Seaman did not emerge for the second half. Reports from the dressing room indicated a hip injury and Stuart Taylor took over in goal.
The former England Under-21 keeper had a close call within six minutes of the restart when van der Meyde’s well-struck shot sailed over the bar after he cut in.
Then there was another amazing escape for Ajax when keeper Lobont came sliding out of his area and got to Cole’s pass before Bergkamp could pounce. He was still way off his line when the loose ball ran to Pires who tried to find Bergkamp’s continued run into the area.
The ball squirmed through to Gilberto whose shot was blocked by Lobont as he raced back to his line.
Arsenal kept pressing forward but were almost caught out by a long clearance. Taylor had to come out of his area and head the ball away from Pienaar who chased between Lauren and Campbell.
When Pires put Gilberto in down the left with a neat ball, the Brazilian cut the ball back across goal where Ajax sub Wesley Sneijder completely missed his kick and was fortunate no Arsenal player was in position to take advantage.
By now Ajax were leaving Ibrahimovic alone up front for long spells as they soaked up the Arsenal pressure.
But the striker was quickly joined by Pienaar in a break on 67 minutes only for the latter to finish poorly from 15 yards.
Taylor confidently caught a couple of Ajax corners as Arsenal’s raiders took a breather before Henry fired well over with a speculative effort from 22 yards.
Wiltord made a penetrating run and found Bergkamp whose shot on the turn beat Lobont but bounced away off the foot of a post.
Although Pires and Wiltord were tireless, Henry was not having one of his better nights and Arsenal could badly have done with Bergkamp’s effort sneaking in.
They needed a spark and Wenger sent on striker Francis Jeffers in place of Wiltord for the last 16 minutes.
It almost proved an immediate disaster as Maxwell’s hopeful shot glanced off Jeffers’ head as the substitute stood just outside the Arsenal area and only just cleared Taylor’s crossbar.
Ajax keeper Lobont was shown a yellow card for time-wasting as he dallied over a goal kick and the visitors continued to run down the clock with a couple more substitutions.
With 10 minutes left Lobont fumbled a free-kick shot by Bergkamp but neither Jeffers nor Vieira could force home the rebound.
Then Arsenal had a fright when de Jong just failed to force home a right wing cross in the 84th minute with Taylor struggling to make contact.
In stoppage time, Lobont gallantly smothered the ball at Pires’ flying feet when a Cole drive came through a crowd of players and Pires was shown a yellow card.
ARSENAL: Seaman, Lauren, Campbell, Cygan, Cole, Wiltord, Silva, Vieira, Pires, Bergkamp, Henry.
AJAX: Lobont, Trabelsi, Chivu, Pasanen, Van Damme, Pienaar, Galasek, De Jong, Maxwell, Van der Meyde, Ibrahimovic.
Referee: C Cortez Batista (Portugal)
