Goals from Cesc Fabregas and Alexander Hleb ensured Arsenal have one foot in the door of the Champions League proper.
It was by no means an easy contest and the Czech side were much the better team for most of the first half. But the Gunners kept their nerve and started to take control midway through the second period.
The all-important goal came in the 72nd minute. Gael Clichy stormed up field, beat two defenders and then squared for Fabregas to score with ease. Sparta continued to attack in numbers and goalkeeper Jens Lehmann had to make some important saves. In injury time, Bacary Sagna set-up Hleb to roll home the goal which should send Arsenal through to the group stages.
Afterwards Wenger said: "It was a very physical game. Sparta played with a total commitment in the first half and stopped us from playing. We needed to be patient and not make a mistake.
"At one stage we were lucky as well, because they hit the post. We needed to play with more purpose in going forwards and did that more in the second half. Then we were more dangerous.
"The whole team has a resilience, they fight to the last second - and we have shown that again tonight when we scored the goal."
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