© Reuters 2002

DORTMUND, Germany, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Borussia Dortmund signalled their return to Europe's top flight by beating Arsenal 2-1 in the Champions League, a win made sweeter as bitter rivals Bayern Munich had already crashed out of the competition.

Both Dortmund and Arsenal progressed to the second round of the Champions League but Dortmund fans read the win as a sign the 1997 European Champions were back after a shaky start to this season's campaign in Europe.

"Are you watching Bayern, that's how it done," chanted fans in the south stand of the Westfalen stadium, one of the most passionate grounds in the German Bundesliga.

"It's coming home, German football's coming home," they sang after Czech playmaker Tomas Rosicky converted a controversial penalty in the 62nd minute to leave the English champions feeling the pain of a fourth consecutive defeat on Wednesday.

Dortmund are now top of Group A on 10 points, one point clear of Arsenal. However, PSV Eindhoven's 3-0 defeat of Auxerre means Arsenal still go through.

Dortmund's southern rivals Bayern Munich faced a wave of derision after Deportivo Coruna knocked the former European champions out of the Champions League in the first round on Tuesday.

Last season's finalists Bayer Leverkusen are also through to the second round.

AVENGE DEFEAT

German champions Dortmund were out to avenge a 2-0 loss at Highbury in September - their only defeat in domestic and European competition this season.

German international midfielder Lars Ricken, who hit the post in the second minute with only Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman to beat, said the team from the industrial Ruhr valley could be proud of their victory.

"We went out full of confidence and we deserved to win. We clearly had more goal chances and had more of the game," said Ricken, who was playing his 60th European match.

"I know I should have done better right at the start, it would have settled us down. But we can be proud," he said.

Dortmund coach Matthias Sammer heaped praise on his team for showing character in coming back from a goal down after a Thierry Henry free kick in the first half.

"We had a good first half and then gave away a stupid goal. We played more decisively in the second half and were lucky to win with a penalty but overall we played very cleverly," said the former German international.

"That was a young team out there. For that reason, the performance coming back from a goal down is even more important," Sammer said.

Dortmund equalised on 38 minutes when Rosicky sent an inswinging free kick into the box and a deflection from Brazilian Gilberto Silva left Seaman helpless.

BLAMED REFEREE

A furious Arsene Wenger blamed the defeat - the first time Arsenal have lost four in a row since 1983 - on an error by Spanish referee Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez and said giant Czech striker Jan Koller took a dive to win the penalty.

"Finally the referee made the difference. All credit to him, he scored a good second goal," the Arsenal manager said.

Wenger also referred to remarks attributed to Sammer in a British newspaper that Arsenal were fond of diving to try and win free kicks - comments that Sammer denies.

"It was a good dive from people accusing us of diving. It was a good return," Wenger said.

While television pictures showed the penalty decision was harsh, Arsenal's game lacked the flowing football and passing that characterised their fine early season form.