Cole the hero as Highbury erupts

Arsenal 1 Dynamo Kiev 0

Ashley Cole became Arsenal’s unlikely hero as he rescued their Champions League hopes from the brink of elimination at Highbury with a last-gasp winner against Dynamo Kiev.

Arsenal still require a significant improvement on this ponderous display to have any chance of reaching the knock-out stages.

Not that the Gunners’ fans were tempering their joy with that harsh dose of reality as they celebrated their side’s first Champions League victory in almost a year, however.

After all, compared to the worst-case scenario facing them with less than two minutes left, hope can now at least spring again – if not eternal.

Time was fast running out when substitute Sylvain Wiltord delivered a high cross into the penalty area and Thierry Henry flicked the ball on for Cole to dive full-length to head home.

Just as Phil Neville had guided Manchester United to victory away to Rangers, so his England defensive colleague had become Arsenal’s saviour.

And just as well. Arsenal had patently struggled up to that point and one late goal cannot paper over the cracks of 12 months of European under-achievement entirely.