by RivalsDM

Updated: August 15, 2007, 4:05 PM EST 56 comments

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On the ground where former captain Thierry Henry had become the club's all-time record goalscorer two season ago, the next generation of young Gunners looked to begin writing a new chapter.

And it was a hard-fought victory - courtesy of goals from Cesc Fabregas and Alexander Hleb, in stoppage time - on a humid night, overcoming tough opponents and a partisan crown at the AXA Stadium.

For long spells, Arsenal were on the back foot, and had goalkeeper Jens Lehmann - guilty of a terrible blunder against Fulham on Sunday - to thank when he deflected Jan Rezek's early effort onto the post and then denied Libor Dosek late on.

Following Hleb's timely second goal in the final moments of stoppage-time, Arsene Wenger will now be confident his side can finish the job at Emirates Stadium in a fortnight's time to once again join Manchester United and Chelsea in Europe's elite club competition.

Sparta had started brightly, with Jiri Kladrubsky sending over a dangerous cross from the left into the Arsenal area.

And on nine minutes, the home side almost snatched the lead.

Pavel Horvath looped the ball over towards the far post, Jan Rezek arrived late and sent a low shot back across goal. Lehmann threw out a foot and managed to deflect the ball onto the post and it bounced clear.

At the other end, Fabregas tried his luck from 20 yards and goalkeeper Tomas Postulka made a decent reaction save.

After that early scare, Arsenal enjoyed more possession.

A foul on full-back Bacary Sagna gave the visitors a free-kick 22 yards out to the right. Robin van Persie struck his effort well enough, but it was straight at the Sparta keeper.

There were a few clumsy challenges flying in - with Marek Kulic the second Sparta player cautioned in the 17th minute.

Lubos Husek - the other man already in the book - weaved his way into the right side of the Arsenal area, but could not produce a finish and smashed the ball wide.

There was a distinct edge to the game now, with Fabregas cautioned on 25 minutes for a hefty tackle on Martin Abraham.

Lehmann was out bravely to block at the feet of Rezek at the edge of his penalty area, with left-back Gael Clichy making the clearance from the loose ball.

Sparta continued to press, and looked dangerous down the right.

Mathieu Flamini had tested the referee's patience once too often following another late tackle and was booked.

Arsenal got forwards more towards the end of the first half, but again looked vulnerable on the counter attack.

Sparta's beanpole striker Dosek flashed a header wide in the closing moments.

The home side again looked sharp following the restart, as Arsenal were forced to defend deep within their own half.

On 52 minutes, there was a moment of alarm when Lehmann almost lost control of a back-pass, before quickly regaining composure.

In a rare Arsenal attack, Bacary Sagna got clear down the right and his centre was headed behind by Zdenek Pospech.

Van Persie then struck a low shot across goal which Postulka parried following good work by former Sparta midfielder Tomas Rosicky down the left.

Just after the hour, van Persie weaved down the left side of the box and chipped the ball across goal, only for it to be put behind by Kladrubsky - with Emmanuel Eboue lurking in space at the far post.

This was now the Gunners best spell, as they forced a succession of corners.

However, the visitors were unable to find the right pass when in promising positions.

Then, out of nothing, Arsenal snatched a crucial away goal on 72 minutes.

Clichy picked up the ball 25 yards out, skipped past two defenders before slipping a square pass to Fabregas - who made no mistake from just inside the box.

Arsenal then had to soak up plenty of pressure as the hosts looked to get back on level terms, Lehmann touching an angled drive from Marek Kulic behind.

The veteran German then produced another good save to keep out a header from Dosek.

Sparta felt they had a penalty claim when Abraham went down under a challenge from Fabregas.

Arsenal held out, though, and gave themselves a two-goal cushion when Hleb seconds from the end following an impressive run by Sagna down the left after Lehmann's quick throw.