Gunners start to fire

With Arsenal FC finally starting to show some consistency in the FA Premiership, hopes are high at Highbury stadium for a successful UEFA Champions League campaign.

Inconsistent performances
In a season packed with surprises in England, Arsenal have failed to fully capitalise on the inconsistent form of champions Manchester United FC and the earlier stages of their Champions League campaign showed a team with schizophrenic tendencies. At home, Arsène Wenger's side have shown excellent form, but on their travels they are yet to gain a point.

Narrow margin
At the start of the first group stage, Arsenal looked like the favourites to qualify for the second group stage as Group C winners, but their indifferent form away from home and the surprisingly good performances of unfancied Panathinaikos FC saw them just scrape through to the second stage thanks to getting the better of their two fixtures with RCD Mallorca, who finished level with Arsenal on nine points.

Decisive victory
A 3-1 win against the Spanish side at Highbury was enough to cancel out their first-day, 1-0 defeat at the Son Moix stadium where the early dismissal of left-sided defender Ashley Cole cost them dearly.

Disciplinary problems
A dismissal for Oleg Luzhny after 17 minutes of their game in Gelsenkirchen saw Arsenal fall to their worst defeat of the tournament against FC Schalke 04, and they were thankful for three home wins in their first group stage matches which earned them a place in the second stage of the tournament.

SECOND PHASE: Same old story

The start of the second group stage has seen Arsenal's inconsistency again. On matchday seven they lost 2-0 away to Deportivo La Coruña, but the following week they overwhelmed Juventus FC at Highbury with a scintillating performance in which midfielder Fredrik Ljungberg scored twice and French striker Thierry Henry chipped in with a superb free-kick.

REMAINING GAMES: Away points vital

After two games, it is all square in Group D with all four sides having won one game and lost one. In a group where home form is so impressive, the vital thing for Arsenal is to start to pick up points away from Highbury, and they have an immediate chance to demonstrate their improved form on their travels when they visit Bayer 04 Leverkusen in February on Matchday Nine.

THE COACH: Arsène Wenger

Having recently signed a new four-year deal at the Highbury stadium and with plans to build a new 60,000-capacity stadium having been approved, things are looking good for the Arsenal manager after months of uncertainty over his future, including persistent rumours that he was being groomed to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

Gallic flair
The French coach is not the most demonstrative of managers, but few at Highbury doubt his knowledge of the game or his commitment to the club he joined from 1997 from Japanese side Nagoya Grampus Eight. Having earned his reputation as coach of AS Monaco FC, Wenger brought a new Gallic flair to Arsenal and a number of key French players to Highbury.

Instant success
His determination and belief in maintaining a large, regularly rotated squad came to fruition as Arsenal won the 1997/98 FA Premiership title, but success in Europe has eluded him so far. Arsenal's most successful run in European competition saw them reach the final of the UEFA Cup in 2000 where they were beaten on penalties by Galatasaray SK.

THE PLAYER: Thierry Henry

Without doubt, the most important weapon in Wenger's armoury is French striker Thierry Henry. If the leggy striker is playing well, Arsenal rarely lose and with five goals in the first group stage and one in the second, he is well up in the Champions League top scorers table for 2001/02.

Converted winger
Signed from Juventus for €17m, Henry benefited enormously from Wenger's experience and quickly developed into one of the most potent goalscorers in Europe and a regular fixture in the all-conquering French national side that won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and EURO 2000™. Having been deployed as a winger in the early part of his career, Wenger saw his potential as an out-and-out striker and has been richly rewarded for his vision.

Lethal finishing
When at his best, Henry is a truly terrifying opponent. He is eager to get involved in any attacking moves, dropping deep where necessary, but his superb close control and devastating pace can come into play at any time and his finishing, as many visitors to Highbury have learned to their cost, is deadly.

DOMESTIC FORM: Steadily improving

Inconsistency dogged the early part of Arsenal's season, although in stark contrast to their Champions League performances, they have yet to lose an FA Premiership away game. However, defeats at Highbury to Leeds United AFC and
fellow Londoners Charlton Athletic FC caused consternation among supporters. A 4-0 thrashing of Manchester United in November marked an upturn in the club's fortunes and they are now serious contenders for the league title.