Arsenal 3 Schalke 2

	Schalke were beaten at Highbury by Arsenal (MarkThompson/Allsport)

In the end, Thierry Henry's second of the night, a penalty, ensured Arsene Wenger's side bounced back from their opening defeat in Mallorca.

But a more convincing side than Schalke would have made them pay for the absence of Sol Campbell, Tony Adams and Ashley Cole.

Arsenal were stilted and fumbling, and only David Seaman's 38th birthday acrobatics kept the Gunners on terms before Freddie Ljungberg's shot took a cruel deflection off Schalke skipper Tomasz Waldoch and Henry claimed his first of the night.

Schoolboy defending by Sylvain Wiltord was then punished by Marco van Hoogdalem and while Henry kept his head after Patrick Vieira was brought down, more slack marking enabled Emile Mpenza's 69th-minute header to leave fragile nerves exposed on and off the pitch before the vital victory was claimed.

Arsenal have been outstanding at home since abandoning the Wembley experiment but last night that record was imperilled by their reshuffle.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst, deputising for the suspended Cole, admits he is not a left back, and while Martin Keown and Gilles Grimandi are not exactly unfamiliar with each other, neither are they a natural central defensive pairing.

Arsenal looked vulnerable. Just how vulnerable became transparently clear inside 90 seconds, as Seaman's goal had the first of its narrow escapes.

Belgium striker Mpenza played strike partner Victor Agali in and sprinted into the hole Van Bronckhorst left exposed to accept the return, only to drive into the side-netting when he should have done better.

A warning, not heeded. Three minutes later, Sven Vermant sent the shuffle- gaited Mpenza streaking beyond Keown, this time to snatch at his shot and send it into the Clock End.

It was exactly what Wenger had feared, and his demand that his team take the game to the German side was not being listened to, with Poland defender Waldoch untroubled behind his protective mask.

Ray Parlour, dragging a shot wide, and then Van Bronckhorst, with a right-footed volley that landed on the roof of the net, did have attempts on goal, but the real danger was at Seaman's end.

In Munich for England earlier this month, the goalkeeper plunged spectacularly to his right to foil Jorg Bohme. This time, the dive was the other way, as the wingback sneaked in untenanted to meet Vermant's searching centre.

Once again, to Arsenal's relief, Seaman was more than able as he parried to safety.

Mpenza's pace was threatening every time he received the ball, and when he played Agali in on goal in the 19th minute, the Nigerian should have done better than shoot at the keeper. Skipper Vieira, forced to cover back, was unable to influence the game in his normal manner.

But an Henry run and shot which flashed across the face of goal boded better, although Reck had not really been extended. Until, out of nothing, Arsenal went ahead.

Wiltord's flick released Ljungberg on halfway, and for once he showed directness. Henry's run drew two defenders, but without the huge deflection off Waldoch's right leg, it would have been a simple gather.

Arsenal did not care, and while Seaman got away with a mis-timed dash from his line as Mpenza, the attention was soon at the other end as Henry doubled the advantage.

This was more like Arsenal, in design and execution. Van Bronckhorst, surging forward, exchanged passes with Wiltord before squaring, and while the ball was initially behind Henry, he had time to spin and clip home his shot.

But then Wiltord stupidly tried a dummy on the edge of his own box, allowing Andy Moller to take advantage and cross for Van Hoogdalem to drill in a goal. Within 30 seconds of the restart, though, Arsenal were back in charge.

Vieira, released by Henry's flick, could have gone for goal. Instead he induced Reck to clip his trailing leg.

French referee Claude Colombo, who had changed his shirt at the break, pointed to the spot, sparing Reck a card of any colour, but Henry showed no leniency as he tucked into the bottom corner.

That should have been enough. But Arsenal fell asleep again, Keown ball-watching as Tomasz Hajto's deep cross saw Mpenza glancing a header past Seaman to ensure an ending as anxious as the opening had been.