Arsenal defender Kolo Toure grabbed a crucial winner to give his team a 1-0 victory in their Champions League semifinal tie with Villarreal last night.
Toure turned home Aleksander Hleb's pass after 41 minutes to give Arsene Wenger's side a slender advantage.
Cesar Arzo headed Thierry Henry's shot off the line after the break as Arsenal struggled to break down Villarreal.
The Spanish side rarely threatened, although Juan Roman Riquelme and Marcos Senna forced saves from Jens Lehmann.
Arsenal were denied a crucial early breakthrough after 11 minutes when Henry slotted home Robert Pires' pass, but he was adjudged marginally offside.
Arsene Wenger remained cautious about Arsenal's chances of reaching the Champions League final after the narrow victory: "I believe it is a good result but we'll know after the second game. We wanted a second goal, but sometimes we were too nervous.
"We faced a good team, very strong in the midfield and we couldn't impose enough to create more chances."
Wenger added: "At home you never know what is enough in a semi-final and it is difficult to go forward.
"We want to keep a clean sheet in the second leg, and we have proved we can do that, but it is not enough to just go there and defend. We want to play our game and score goals.
"We have got Spurs on Saturday and then the second leg of the Champions League semi-final, so the next six days will define our season, but we are confident we can do it."
Villarreal striker Diego Forlan claimed his side had been denied a clear penalty in the first half when Gilberto Silva fouled Jose Mari, but referee Konrad Plautz waved away the appeals.
He said: "I think the decision of the referee on Jose Mari - that was a big penalty.
"He didn't see that and I think he was against us all game. I think if you see it on TV it was.
"But it was not all about the referee. We didn't play well and we lost."
Toure turned home Aleksander Hleb's pass after 41 minutes to give Arsene Wenger's side a slender advantage.
Cesar Arzo headed Thierry Henry's shot off the line after the break as Arsenal struggled to break down Villarreal.
The Spanish side rarely threatened, although Juan Roman Riquelme and Marcos Senna forced saves from Jens Lehmann.
Arsenal were denied a crucial early breakthrough after 11 minutes when Henry slotted home Robert Pires' pass, but he was adjudged marginally offside.
Arsene Wenger remained cautious about Arsenal's chances of reaching the Champions League final after the narrow victory: "I believe it is a good result but we'll know after the second game. We wanted a second goal, but sometimes we were too nervous.
"We faced a good team, very strong in the midfield and we couldn't impose enough to create more chances."
Wenger added: "At home you never know what is enough in a semi-final and it is difficult to go forward.
"We want to keep a clean sheet in the second leg, and we have proved we can do that, but it is not enough to just go there and defend. We want to play our game and score goals.
"We have got Spurs on Saturday and then the second leg of the Champions League semi-final, so the next six days will define our season, but we are confident we can do it."
Villarreal striker Diego Forlan claimed his side had been denied a clear penalty in the first half when Gilberto Silva fouled Jose Mari, but referee Konrad Plautz waved away the appeals.
He said: "I think the decision of the referee on Jose Mari - that was a big penalty.
"He didn't see that and I think he was against us all game. I think if you see it on TV it was.
"But it was not all about the referee. We didn't play well and we lost."
