Fortunately for a visibly worried Wenger he soon recovered.That was the last time Wenger worried. After four minutes Lucio brought the ball out of defence only to be ambushed by Vieira The ball ran to Pires, lurking by the halfway line. He advanced to the edge of the German box, glided past Jens Nowotny, and steered a shot inside the far post. Three minutes later Arsenal scored again with a goal which summed up the beauty of their attacking movement and the precision of their passing. Vieira, in central midfield, turned an opponent and released Bergkamp. He relayed the ball to Sylvain Wiltord on the right and, when the cross came over, Henry tapped it between Jorg Butt’s legs Highbury reached for the cigars.

However, while Arsenal’s attack was clearly unaffected by withdrawals the defence had been badly hit and it showed. Twice in quick time Lauren was exposed and dangerous crosses were delivered. Though neither were converted Leverkusen were encouraged and they enjoyed spells of possession which suggested they could yet be a threat. The next goal would be the crucial one and Igors Stepanovs, who had a fine game, almost provided it. Rising to Henry’s 24th minute corner he thudded a header goalwards but Butt pushed it against the crossbar. Bergkamp was then denied a simple tap-in by a dubious offside flag.At the break Leverkusen brought on Yildiray Basturk, who had so troubled Arsenal last week, and Dimitar Berbatov.

Within two minutes the latter, a striker, did the trick, but at the wrong end. Michael Ballack fouled Lee Dixon, Henry sent over the free-kick, and Berbatov could only flick it onto the far post where Vieira headed in The other substitute was faring no better. Basturk had tumbled for both Ray Parlour’s yellow cards last week. It was thus with much delight that Highbury greeted a caution for Basturk after he fell theatrically near Stepanovs.Arsenal eased up and David Seaman, a touch fortuitously, denied Ze Roberto as Bayer pressed. It was time for the coup de gras and Bergkamp, playing his first match for 25 days, provided it with an exquisite chip. “It is a joy to watch them,” said Klaus Topmoller, the Leverkusen coach, “they are a top team.”Arsenal (4-4-2): Seaman; Dixon, Stepanovs, Campbell, Lauren (Inamoto, 85); Wiltord (Pennant, 89), Vieira, Grimandi (Edu, 66), Pires; Bergkamp, Henry. Substitutes not used: Wright (gk), Tavlaridis, Aliadiere, Volz.Bayer Leverkusen (4-4-2): Butt; Zivkovic (Sebescen, 73), Lucio, Nowotny, Placente; Schneider (Basturk, h-t), Ramelow, Ballack, Ze Roberto; Kirsten (Berbatov, h-t), Neuville.