Arsenal see red again

All the same, at the very start Seaman appeared a touch rusty, allowing an easy Oliver Neuville effort to rebound out of his hands. Nor was his early distribution of the highest order.

Wenger declared before kick-off that he was looking for his side to improve their habitually timid start to European away games. With Vieira elegantly vigilant, the Gunners made a solid beginning, although Bernd Schneider's work was always potent along with that of Yildiray Basturk.

Then, out of a patient Arsenal build-up, Thierry Henry found Kanu but the Nigerian tried to be too clever with his placed shot and Jorg Butt saved. Two minutes later, Butt dived to push away Sylvain Wiltord's low skimmer.

At the other end, a beautiful through ball from Michael Ballack released Basturk, who crossed to Ze Roberto. The Brazilian had only to push the ball home from eight yards yet muffed the contact, leaving Sol Campbell and van Bronckhorst to stifle the danger.

On the half-hour Kanu played the ball into Henry's path. The ball was cleared from the Frenchman's feet by Jens Nowotny, who suffered a knock and never quite recovered, although he still managed an important interception when Pires put Wiltord through.

Just before the break Basturk linked up yet again with Ze Roberto. With Kirsten and Neuville lurking in the box it seemed the Brazilian must find one of them. Instead, he lingered too long and the threat to Arsenal's goal disappeared.

Then, after 56 minutes, Pires surged through, found Wiltord on the right and he crossed the ball back for his countryman to score. Arsenal were looking as if they were about to lay their European ghost, with the deeply unheralded Stepanovs (purchase price four turnips and a potato) repeatedly making key interceptions.

But Parlour, booked just before half time for a foul on Basturk, was riding his luck. Leverkusen appeared determined to earn him Arsenal's 12th red card of the season, hurling themselves to the floor whenever he drew near.

Ultimately, Parlour's commitment to the tackle made it easy. When Basturk plummeted to earth some months after a featherlight contact

"Basturk caused us the most problems," Wenger said. "He was very light-footed on the ball but also when it came to falling down early. It wasn't a bad foul but on that pitch Ray was late a few times."

The manager's unaccustomed circumspection was set aside with his next sentence, as he complained that Arsenal should have had a penalty after 73 minutes when Diego Placente fouled Henry. But he made no mention of Leverkusen's somewhat stronger penalty claim, when Stepanovs handled the ball late on.

Wenger shored up the defence with Gilles Grimandi and Edu, ignoring the fans' inexplicable demands for Dennis Bergkamp.

Thereafter Schneider's strike skimmed the bar and Dimitar Berbatov's header hit the same woodwork. But at the very death Schneider's fast cross found Ulf Kirsten, who headed home.

According to Burt Bacharach, it won't be long 'til happiness steps up to greet him. But out-and-out happiness is taking its time stepping up to greet Arsenal on their European travels.