Lippi, they say now, has gone all for power, sacrificing the finesse of his omnipotent side of the Nineties.

Gianluca Zambrotta found Nedved after five minutes and his lay-off to Del Piero saw the little striker deceive Lauren and force Stuart Taylor into a full-stretch block which was worthy of his opposite number - Gianlugi Buffon - the most expensive keeper in the world.

From the corner, Taylor was at it again - this time from a Del Piero header before David Trezeguet bent a shot just over to allow the home side some respite. It was short-lived. Nedved was clean through but once more the rookie between the sticks showed a mature sense of timing in blocking the effort.

With only a quarter of an hour gone, Arsenal were barely in the match but Taylor's resilience at least gave Patrick Vieira something to fight for. Having been exposed by Trezeguet as enquiring about life with Juve prior to the match, the France international was clearly eager to show his commitment to the Gunners' cause.

The task was made somewhat easier when Igor Tudor limped out of the contest to be replaced by the erratic Edgar Davids. Having established a stranglehold in midfield, Lauren was able to break on the wing, though his cross was half cleared.

Vieira collected the loose ball and evaded two defenders to deliver a blow from the edge of the box. Buffon could not handle it and Freddie Ljungberg nipped in to clip Juve with the sucker punch and put Arsenal into the lead.

Juventus were stunned by the blow. So much so that they were bereft in picking up Ray Parlour two minutes later and Buffon moved smartly to deny the midfielder.

Wenger's side were able to penetrate by running straight at them. The normally calm Paolo Montero reacted badly to the incursions, conceding space and possession. It was Zambrotta, though, who gifted the kick which put Arsenal further ahead.

A stupid tackle on Pires invited Henry to strike the free-kick at goal. His aim was as devastating as the power with which his shot was dispatched, leaving Buffon as much a spectator as the Clock End.

Henry has been unfavourably compared to the player he affectionately calls 'brother' who replaced him at Juve - Trezeguet. They were apprentices together at Monaco and since Henry's move to the Premiership his former team-mate has succeeded in the challenge he turned his back on.

It was Lilian Thuram who was left looking like his shadow, however, when his international colleague turned him embarrassingly easily to set up Pires on his left. The centre found Kanu, who foxed the defence to leave Ljungberg the opportunity to finish Juve off. He missed and four minutes into the second half had reason to regret it.

Zambrotta's charge behind Ashley Cole was unguarded and Taylor did well to parry the shot. Trezeguet collected and drove the ball back at goal, beating the keeper but not Sol Campbell. Only for the curse of the Highbury keepers to strike again. Taylor could hardly believe his luck when Campbell's clearance rebounded off him into the net.

From then on, Arsenal were forced to battle harder and though Nedved seemed set to steal the advantage from them, Dennis Bergkamp's brilliance in the dying seconds set up Ljungberg to make this an historic night for Arsenal.