Paris, October 19:

A Thierry Henry double for Arsenal on his return from injury lit up Champions League programme which also served up sweet revenge for Bayern Munich over old foes Juventus.

Henry showed just what a priceless asset he is when making a surprise return after a five week lay-off to seal Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Sparta Prague with goals in either half. His brace made him Arsenal’s record all time scorer with 186 goals, one clear of the former mark held by Ian Wright.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger unleashed his prize weapon off the bench in the 15th minute. The French striker’s brilliance pushed Arsenal a sizeable step closer to the knockout stages with the Gunners running away with Group B at the midway stage. This third successive win leaves them on nine points, five clear of second-placed Ajax who beat Swiss minnows FC Thun 2-0 in Amsterdam thanks to goals from Greek striker Yannis Anastasiou.

Bayern Munich are also sitting pretty on nine points atop of Group A after seeing off Juventus 2-1. After losing twice to the Italian giants in last season’s group stage this was a result to savour. Two goals inside eight minutes from Sebastian Deisler and Martin Demichelis helped Bayern defeat the Italians for the first time in European competition. The result though rather than revenge was uppermost on Bayern manager Felix Magath’s mind afterwards.

In the other Group A fixture FC Bruges came away from a visit to Rapid Vienna with a 1-0 win, their first in this campaign to leave the Belgians third on three points. At Old Trafford Manchester United were held to a goalless draw by French visitors Lille in a game notable only for the sending-off of Paul Scholes and a Ryan Giggs free-kick that hit the post.

A total of six players were booked in a scrappy encounter watched by 60,000 frustrated supporters, although Lille’s small band of fans appeared pleased with the point. United head Group D with a one point lead from Benfica, who drew 1-1 at Villarreal.

In Athens, plucky Panathinaikos held Spanish giants Barcelona to a goalless draw at the Olympic stadium, the stalemate leaving Frank Rijkaard’s millionaires heading Group C on seven points, three clear of Udinese, who drew 1-1 with German champions Werder Bremen.

Results

Group A: Bayern Munich 2 (Deisler 32, Demichelis 38) Juventus 1 (Ibrahimovic 90); Rapid Vienna 0 FC Bruges 1 (Balaban 75); Group B: Ajax 2 (Anastasiou 36, 55) FC Thun 0; Sparta Prague 0 Arsenal 2 (Henry 21, 74); Group C: Panathinaikos 0 Barcelona 0; Udinese 1 (Di Natale 86) Werder Bremen 1 (Felipe-og 64); Group D: Villarreal 1 (Riquelme 72-pen) Benfica 1 (Fernandes 77); Manchester United 0 Lille 0.