Gunners draw first blood

Arsenal 1 Villarreal 0

Kolo Toure's first goal of the season just before half-time proved enough to give the Gunners a slender lead to take to Spain for the second leg next week, when they will seek to secure a place in the final of Europe's elite club competition for the first time in their history.

Having already seen off the challenge of Real Madrid and Serie A leaders Juventus, it was another solid display from Arsene Wenger's men, watched by a crowd of 35,438 as the Gunners come towards the end of their 93-year stay on Avenell Road.