Arsenal's full-bodied display

Organic unit
Arsène Wenger's men had 63 per cent of the possession and 15 shots on target to Sparta's two. More than that, the Arsenal midfield and forwards combined into an organic unit that allowed them to maintain their 100 per cent home record in their final Highbury campaign. Even the storm that rumbled over north London for much of the evening did not dilute that team spirit.

Arsenal's spine
The brain of the team was Mathieu Flamini, the young Frenchman who played with an intelligence and efficiency that so often provided the base from which Arsenal's attackers could build their flowing moves. Alongside him, Gilberto supplied the lungs, offering energetic cover for the defence and back-up further forward.

Soul man
Thanks to their efforts, Thierry Henry, Robert Pirès, José Antonio Reyes and Dennis Bergkamp were able to tear into Sparta with abandon, sometimes lost in the sheer joy of their fluency. Bergkamp himself could be said to provide the soul of the lineup; his commitment even at 36 a pleasure to behold; his ability still undimmed. He even bounced back from two disappointing early misses to provide a vital passing link for all three goals. Like the stadium itself, he predates even Wenger's lengthy reign; also akin to Highbury, the Arsenal fans are willing Bergkamp's last season to be a successful one.

Reyes spirit
If Bergkamp is the soul then Reyes is a similarly metaphysical spirit. A full 14 years younger than the Dutchman, Reyes is forever attempting the spectacular; it does not always come off, and that disheartens the Spaniard, but not for long. A moment late in the second half showed that as Reyes failed to intercept a long pass and he slumped, hands on knees, in frustration. As he looked up, a Sparta player was bearing down on him and Reyes coolly won the ball and set Bergkamp away on the move that ended with Arsenal's second, clinching, goal.

Henry goal
Pirès, perhaps, gives Arsenal their legs. A prosaic comparison in theory, but whenever he gets the ball, play moves on several paces, and up a pace. As for Henry, the captain is the heart of Arsenal's game, always desperate to receive possession, and the strands, perhaps the veins, of the side ultimately lead to him. His stunning finish to put the Gunners ahead certainly set pulses racing.

Heart transplant
Wenger himself holds an honorary doctorate of science, but he tunes the body of the team with the precision of a fully-qualified surgeon. Indeed, his replacement of Henry for Robin van Persie was a heart transplant to conjure with as the substitute, recently recovered from injury, pierced the tiring Sparta defence with two late goals.

'Victory makes us stronger'
Granted, Arsenal will have to fend off heavier blows than those launched by an off-form Sparta. But Wenger declared: "Every victory makes us stronger", and as there is something natural about the way Arsenal combine and the pleasure they take from doing so, they could yet challenge the bionic men of Chelsea FC, FC Barcelona and co.