Arsenal firing on all cylinders

Updated 22.47 Wed Aug 13 2008

Keywords: Steve McLaren, Liverpool, Twente, Standard Liege, Arsenal

Arsenal and Liverpool enjoyed mixed fortunes in their Champions League third round qualifiers.

Arsenal struck twice to beat former England manager Steve McLaren's Twente Enschede in the Netherlands.

Arsenal will be expected to finish the job in the second leg at the Emirates Stadium on Aug 27

Captain William Gallas opened the scoring in the 63rd minute, bundling the ball home from close range after the Dutch side failed to clear a free kick from Robin van Persie.

Adebayor doubled the lead with eight minutes remaining, steering home Theo Walcott's cross to put the Premier League side in the driving seat to reach the group stage.

Arsenal will be expected to finish the job in the second leg at the Emirates Stadium on Aug 27.

A penalty save by Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina denied Belgium's Standard Liege victory in their first leg, which ended in a 0-0 draw.

Reina saved a poorly taken penalty from Dante Bonfim Costa in the 12th minute after Liverpool defender Andrea Dossena was judged to have handled in the box.

The Belgian champions almost took the lead in the seventh minute when Pepe Reina spectacularly clawed the ball off the line after Marouane Fellaini's header rebounded off the post.

But Liverpool survived to face a rematch at Anfield on August 27.