Wenger laps up Silva service

Auxerre 0 Arsenal 1

The Brazilian scored the fastest-ever Champions League goal last week away to PSV Eindhoven and last night hit the match-winning effort at Auxerre after 47 minutes.

However there was also the worrying sight for Arsenal of striker Thierry Henry going off with a hamstring problem, which makes him a doubt for their Sunday clash with Sunderland at Highbury.

However, on a night, when the Gunners moved within one point of securing their place in the next group stage, Henry insisted he could still be fit for the Sunderland game.

He revealed: ''I felt my hamstring and decided not to take any risks. I'm hoping to be all right for Sunday.''

Wenger believes his French international striker could be 50-50 for the clash with the Black Cats at Highbury although he described it as a ''very minor'' injury.

The Arsenal boss praised Gilberto for the way in which he dominated the game alongside Patrick Vieira in central midfield and scored the winner to take his tally for the season to three goals.

''Frankly, I didn't expect him to score so many goals but when you buy players you sometimes get pleasant surprises,'' revealed Wenger of his £4.5million summer signing.

''But that is one of those surprises, while another is that I didn't expect him to be so good in the air.

''Having seen him play for Brazil, I did not know how often he would get into the box as he has more of a defensive role with his national team.''

The Arsenal boss, who did not select Fredrik Ljungberg due to an overnight migraine, was rather less impressed with a second-half tackle that left Ashley Cole nursing a painful knock.

''I'm not happy at all that he was caught after he had crossed the ball,'' added Wenger.

''He was outstanding though and is in great form so we don't want to lose him for any games.''

Wenger praised his team's entire defensive display as they showed their developing maturity and patience.

He said: ''It was more of a tactical game, a little bit like chess, but I must give a lot of credit to my team as they know how to win even when it is a little bit less fluent.

"They have that mental strength to know that sometimes you need to be patient.

"Both the defence and the defensive midfielders were outstanding even if we were a little bit less fresh physically.

''I thought Pascal Cygan played very well. He was composed, intelligent and had an outstanding game.''

It was more than six months ago, in their Champions League tie away to Juventus on March 20, that Arsenal had last failed to score in a competitive game.

It was no surprise, then, that they broke through within three minutes of the restart and, just as at PSV, the man responsible was Gilberto.

The World Cup winner latched onto an incisive ball from Wiltord inside the penalty area after Toure had initially caused confusion within the Auxerre ranks with a penetrating run down the left flank.

Seaman needed to produce a smart save low down to deny Benjani and a powerful long-range effort by substitute Gonzalez almost caught out the Arsenal keeper as it smacked against the crossbar.

AUXERRE: Cool, Jaures, Mexes, Boumsong, Radet, Fadiga, Faye, Tainio (Sirieix 90), Lachuer (Gonzales 73), Mwaruwari, Kapo Obou.

ARSENAL: Seaman, Cole, Cygan, Campbell, Lauren, Toure (Edu 60), Silva, Vieira, Wiltord (Luzhny 83), Kanu, Henry (Pennant 58).

Referee: F. de Bleeckere (Belgium)