Henry hat-trick buries Roma

Roma 1 Arsenal 3

Thierry Henry scored a hat-trick of the highest quality to give Arsenal the perfect start to their Champions League second group stage in Rome.

Henry quickly equalised Antonio Cassano’s early strike for Roma and then struck twice in the second half after Arsenal had otherwise somewhat ridden their luck amid a display of dogged determination.

Batistuta had been on the pitch just two minutes, however, when Henry put the game beyond any doubt with an inspired 20-yard free-kick curled into the top corner.

It was Arsenal’s first-ever Champions League hat-trick and there was no more deserving player on the pitch as the Gunners swept to the top of their group after the opening game.