Arsenal 1 - 0 Spartak Moscow

	Henry takes the applause after netting against Spartak (CliveBrunskill/Allsport)

The France striker was poised to be the villain of the piece after missing the Gunners' two best chances, with Arsene Wenger's decision to leave Sylvain Wiltord out of the side back-firing terribly.

But, just as Arsenal were facing the prospect of having to win in Munich next week while hoping that Lyon slipped up in Moscow to scramble through to the last eight, Henry made amends.

Ashley Cole's left-wing corner eight minutes from time found Henry rising powerfully six yards out.

Jerry-Christian Tchuisse looked as if he would clear off the line, but instead only diverted the ball into the roof of the net to give Henry his 19th goal of the season and his third in Europe.

It brought a cascade of relief to Highbury after an evening of utter frustration. Even so, Wenger's team must win in Bavaria next Wednesday to be certain of going through. Munich will go out if Lyon triumph in Moscow.

Yet the dramatic finale means that Arsenal's fate is still in their hands, after an escape act which perhaps even Wenger did not expect.

Wiltord discovered that you are sometimes not even as good as your last game as he failed to make the starting line-up despite his weekend hat-trick against West Ham.

Wenger instead opted to use Dennis Bergkamp alongside Henry, although the urgency with which the Gunners began augured well.

Spartak packed the midfield in an attempt to stifle the home side, but both Arsenal strikers made early inroads down the left, before a great move down the right ended with Lauren feeding Robert Pires for the France midfielder to drag across goal.

It was a good chance, and a better one was squandered in the sixth minute. Bergkamp's right-wing free-kick picked out Vieira, but from no real range his header skidded wide. Still, it was an answer to Wenger's challenge.

Spartak skipper Egor Titov, the star of the show when the Gunners crashed 4-1 in Moscow, soon proved his danger on the ball, but fortunately Tony Adams was in commanding form at the back, not only in his tackling, but also his anticipation as he frustrated Brazilian Robson.

In front of the skipper, Vieira was also inspired, his legs seemingly telescopic as he won ball after ball and then spread the play superbly.

Twice the combination of Vieira's vision and Ashley Cole's sheer zest down the left undressed Moscow, and although Cole's first cross was too high, the second, on 20 minutes, should have brought the opener.

Pires gathered Cole's centre at the far post and pulled back, only for Henry to mis-kick from eight yards out.

Vieira had another opportunity when he peeled off to meet Pires' left-wing corner with an angled volley kicked away by keeper Alexander Filimonov, before heading wide from a similar spot.

Having survived the opening exchanges, Spartak - who needed to win just as badly - gained in confidence.

But Arsenal ended the half on the front foot, Freddie Ljungberg driving forward and releasing Bergkamp for a shot deflected over the top, before the Dutchman then curled fractionally wide.

News of Lyon's interval advantage over Bayern brought more concern among the home ranks, and when Ljungberg, released by Bergkamp, theatrically threw himself to the floor under a challenge from Tchuisse, the evidence of Arsenal's desperation was clear.

The concerns were growing with every passing minute and when Henry, all alone after a Ljungberg shot fell into his path, side-footed wide, Arsenal sensed it was not to be.

All changed when Henry rose superbly to meet Cole's set-piece. It might not have been his most convincing goal, but perhaps it was his most valuable in an Arsenal shirt.