Safety first as Gunners carve out cagey draw

Ajax 0 Arsenal 0

The Gunners were indebted to Ashley Cole, who headed a free-kick off his line, but chances were otherwise at a premium on a night when Valencia's shock defeat by Roma was the real turning point in the group.

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

With David Seaman and Ashley 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.

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 one change to their Highbury line-up, with experienced midfielder Richard Witschge coming in for 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 Berkgamp, 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 fired long-range efforts wide, the visitors were otherwise faced with a packed defensive line.

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, 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.

Ajax continued to control the game with Chivu placing a free-kick narrowly over the bar, while Henry was being outnumbered up front as Arsenal had to battle to regain possession.

When a clear chance did finally come their way, however, Vieira failed to grasp it as his firm shot from a lofted free-kick which landed at his feet was saved by Lobont at the far post.

The Dutch side made the first change, with Abubakari Yakubu coming on for Galasek with 69 minutes gone, although that did little to alter their tactical approach.

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.

AJAX: Lobont, Maxwell, Chivu, Pasanen, Trabelsi, Witschge, Pienaar, Galasek, De Jong, Van der Meyde, Ibrahimovic.

ARSENAL: Seaman, Cole, Campbell, Keown, Lauren, Pires, Silva, Vieira, Wiltord, Bergkamp, Henry.

Referee: Valentin Ivanov (Russia).