Thierry Henry and Cesc Fabregas combined twice to tarnish Patrick Vieira's return to Highbury and give Arsenal a 2-0 home victory over Juventus in their UEFA Champions League match on Tuesday. Captain Henry fed Fabregas for the opener five minutes before the break and the Spaniard returned the favor midway through the second period. The comfortable win put the Gunners on the brink of the semis as they need any draw or even a one-goal defeat at the Stadio Delle Alpi in the second-leg next week. The visitors finished the game with only nine players as Mauro Camoranesi and Jonathan Zebina were sent-off in the closing stages of the match due to second bookable offenses. Juventus midfielder and former Arsenal captain Vieira failed to impress on his old ground and was outpaced by 18-year-old opposite number Fabregas, who forced the France captain to commit four fouls and pick up a caution that will rule him out of the decisive match in Turin. Injury-hit Arsenal started cautiously and managed to cool down the enthusiastic Juventus in the first 15 minutes before turning gradually to an attacking role.
...as was Fabregas Veteran winger Robert Pires and talented Spaniard Jose Antonio Reyes centered on the right and left flanks respectively, leaving the deep midfield for Fabregas, Gilberto Silva and the energetic Alexander Hleb to marshal. Henry nearly produced a stunning opener in the 19th minute when he quickly took a free-kick before the wall lined up, but his curling shot went wide. Arsenal grabbed the lead in the 40th minute when Pires stole the ball from Vieira and released Henry on the left. The international striker squared Fabregas who rounded Lillian Thuram and drilled a low shot home, leaving Juventus keeper Gianluigi Buffon motionless. The home side pinned their opponents in their midfield for almost all the second half and squandered many chances before Henry capped his effort with a blissful goal. Fabregas powered his way past Juve's static defenders and crossed on the ground for the anticipating Henry who chipped home past out-of-position Buffon. Tempers flared as the final whistle neared, Camoranesi and Zebina committed harsh tackles in the 87th and 89th minutes respectively, forcing the referee to dismiss both of them.
