rsenal made a confident start to their Champions League campaign with a comfortable win over Sevilla.
Cesc Fabregas' shot deflected in off Julien Escude to put Arsenal ahead at the break, with Jesus Navas and Freddie Kanoute going close for the visitors.
Robin van Persie made it 2-0, tapping in from Fabregas's free-kick and Sevilla never threatened to come back.
Eduardo sealed the points in injury time with a cool finish after good work by Alexander Hleb and Fabregas.
The Champions League debutants showed they were not daunted by the occasion when Navas's long-range shot fizzed just over the top of Manuel Almunia's goal.
But having survived this early scare, Arsenal went on the attack themselves, calling Sevilla keeper Andres Palop into action twice in quick succession.
First, Van Persie drifted across the boundary of the box before his off-balance shot forced Palop to flap the ball clear.
Shortly afterwards, Palop spilled Flamini's daisy-cutter shot but redeemed himself by pouncing at the feet of Emmanuel Adebayor who was following up.
606: DEBATE Your reaction to Arsenal's win
Palop could hardly be blamed when Fabregas put Arsenal ahead, as he looked to have the shot covered until the deflection off Escude sent the ball to the opposite corner of the net.
Tomas Rosicky limped off shortly after the restart as the game took a while to get going in the second half, but just as Arsenal were starting to feel a one-goal lead was not enough, the second goal came along.
Fabregas curled in a free-kick from the left after a foul on Flamini, and Bakary Sagna's flicked header put it right on the foot of van Persie, who thumped it into the roof of the net from two yards out.
Adebayor's physical presence caused the visitors problems all night, and he came within inches of making it 3-0 with a superb diving header from Sagna's curling cross which shaved the outside of the post.
Arsenal's lead was never seriously under threat, and even when Daniel Alves did manage to curl over a rare cross from the right, the impressive Sagna was first to the ball to clear the danger.
Deep into stoppage time, substitute Eduardo put the icing on the cake with a close-range tap-in after the visiting defence was pulled apart by Hleb and Fabregas.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a second-half header on his return to Sporting Lisbon to ensure Manchester United's Champions League campaign started with a victory.
Ronaldo won warm applause from the home fans for his subdued response to converting Wes Brown's cross after 61 minutes of a low-key encounter.
Wayne Rooney made a quiet comeback after recovering from a broken foot.
And United were grateful to keeper Edwin van der Sar, who made superb saves from Liedson and Tonel.
606: DEBATE Our second half performance on an awful pitch was great
Roonaldez
Rooney, as expected was restored to United's line-up for the first time since sustaining his injury in their opening Premier League fixture against Reading.
Carlos Tevez dropped down to the bench, but Rooney and Ronaldo fed on scraps in a first 45 minutes in which United seemed set on containment.
Van der Sar made a stunning save to keep them on level terms after 27 minutes, diving to save one-handed from Liedson's rising drive.
Nani, another United star returning to his former club, saw a shot deflected narrowly wide after 32 minutes, but then picked up a yellow card for a reckless challenge on Miguel Veloso.
Ronny audaciously tried his luck from 35 yards from the resulting free-kick, but Van der Sar saved comfortably.
Ronaldo started to influence affairs after the break, sending in a cross which was just too high for Ryan Giggs, who failed to control his header.
He made no mistake with his own headed opportunity as United took the lead after 61 minutes.
Brown was the creator with a fine right-wing cross, which Ronaldo diverted past Vladimir Stojkovic with a diving header.
Ronaldo's celebrations were muted as Sporting fans generously applauded his goal, against the club he left four years ago, aged 18.
Nani almost made it a double for United's former Sporting stars with a swerving long-range effort that Stojkovic palmed to safety with 20 minutes left.
It was the signal for Sir Alex Ferguson to withdraw Rooney, who had made a very quiet return after injury, with Louis Saha coming on.
Van der Sar had been excellent for United, and he showed his quality again when he turned away Tonel's header when it looked certain he would turn home Veloso's cross.
Ronaldo left to a standing ovation with four minutes left, but limping slightly, which will be a worry with Chelsea awaiting Manchester United this weekend.
United had been in control after the break, although Sporting substitute Simon Vukcevic shot narrowly wide late on.
Booked: Romagnoli. Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Carrick, Scholes, Nani, Giggs (Anderson 76), Ronaldo (Tevez 86), Rooney (Saha 72). Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Pique, Evans, Eagles.
Booked: Nani, Van der Sar.
Goals: Ronaldo 62.
Att: 39,514
If i come across the table and take your f*****g eyes out ,will you remember
