Arsenal produced a controlled display of patience, poise and persistence as they moved within touching distance of the Champions League second group stage with a 1-0 win against Auxerre.

	Gilberto celebrates the winner (ShaunBotterill/GettyImages)

Having swept all before them recently in a series of attacking masterclasses, this time the Gunners relied on the old-fashioned virtues which enabled Liverpool to dominate Europe in decades gone by.

Having seized the lead after 47 minutes through Gilberto, only once did they even come close to allowing their third group win to slip by as they refused to relinquish their vice-like grip on the game.

In Gilberto and Patrick Vieira they had an imposing midfield bulwark, while Sol Campbell and Pascal Cygan were in commanding form behind them.

Indeed, while it has been Arsenal's strikers and wingers who have won most of the recent plaudits, it was entirely fitting that their defensive talents should receive the credit this time around.

There was the worrying sight of Thierry Henry going off injured with a suspected hamstring injury, especially at a time when Dennis Bergkamp is also out.

However, at least Arsenal now require just one more point to effectively make sure of their place in the second group stage.

The French connection were fully involved in Arsenal's first real threat, with Henry's dummy putting Patrick Vieira through and, while he found Sylvain Wiltord on the left, Kanu was offside as his cross-shot was delivered.

Kolo Toure's hopeful long-shot also sailed over the crossbar and, having made a forceful burst through the centre, he then lost his head and attempted an even more audacious effort which trundled harmlessly wide.

Auxerre were gradually managing to disrupt Arsenal's approach work, forcing the visitors into uncharacteristic, hurried passes which went astray.

Vieira's selfless run off the ball still created space for Kanu to curl an effort from 20 yards out but the attempt flew just over the top.

Wiltord and Toure swapped flanks midway through the first half in a bid to find more penetration, with Arsenal not managing to match their normal levels of incisive approach play at this stage.

Indeed, with the game entering a distinctly patchy spell, it was left to Arsenal's central defensive duo of Campbell and Cygan to ensure that the visitors did not concede any significant ground.

Auxerre keeper Fabien Cool clung onto a 20-yard free-kick from Henry but although Auxerre were increasingly dominating possession, they never came close to making a breakthrough themselves.

When striker Benjani did manage a strike on target after 32 minutes, keeper David Seaman was able to gather the ball with a minimum of fuss.

It was more than six months ago, in their Champions League tie away to Juventus on March 20, that Arsenal had last failed to score in a competitive game.

It was no surprise, then, that they broke through within three minutes of the restart and, just as at PSV, the man responsible was Gilberto.

The World Cup winner latched onto an incisive ball from Wiltord inside the penalty area after Toure had initially caused confusion within the Auxerre ranks with a penetrating run down the left flank.

Henry required treatment soon afterwards and there was no way that Wenger was going to take any risks with his leading striker so he immediately replaced him with Jermaine Pennant.

That meant Wiltord switching to a central attacking role, leaving Pennant out on the right flank, and there was a further change soon afterwards as Edu replaced Toure on the left side of midfield.

Keeper Cool then needed to produce a smart save to grasp Wiltord's header from Kanu's cross as Arsenal looked to remain in control of the game.

Seaman needed to produce a smart save low down to deny Benjani and a powerful long-range effort by substitute Gonzalez almost caught out the Arsenal keeper as it smacked against the crossbar.

Wenger's response was to take off Wiltord and bring defender Oleg Luzhny into midfield, leaving Kanu up front on his own with Pennant attempting to support him.