Gunners silenced as Seaman slips-up

Arsenal 1

David Seaman endured another frustrating game, being beaten twice in the opening 27 minutes, firstly by Olivier Kapo’s long-range drive and then by a close-range lob from Khalilou Fadiga.

Not even Kanu’s strike shortly after half-time, coupled with the long-awaited return from injury of Robert Pires as a substitute, were enough to give Arsenal the point they needed to effectively ensure their qualification. Wenger made just one change to the line-up that started that game, with Sylvain Wiltord returning for Kolo Toure after recovering from a slight knock to his knee.

However, Dennis Bergkamp, Ray Parlour, Martin Keown and Giovanni van Bronckhorst were all still ruled out.

Auxerre, who lost 1-0 at home to the Gunners, were still without star striker Djibril Cisse, but welcomed back Olivier Kapo, Khalilou Fadiga and Teemu Tainio from their weekend defeat at Lyon.

David Seaman was given a reassuringly warm welcome by the crowd in the North Bank behind his goal following his recent England trials and tribulations.

However, there were just five minutes gone when the Arsenal keeper committed another error, even if this one was not fully punished.

Seaman dived at the feet of Benjani as the striker threatened to rush through on goal, but spilled the ball in the wet conditions into the path of Yann Lacheur, who shot wastefully over the bar from 12 yards out.

Just three minutes later he was again beaten from long range, albeit by a powerful drive curled into the far corner by Kapo, who had nutmegged Patrick Vieira after controlling a throw-in.

It was certainly not on a par with his recent mishaps for club and country, although Seaman did manage to get a hand to the ball, yet could still not deflect it wide.

He was not alone in making an unconvincing start to the game, though, with Arsenal looking uncharacteristically disorganised at the back and lacking their normal creative spark in midfield.

Up front, Kanu drilled one effort over the bar after a cut-back by Thierry Henry and then went even closer when he fired another shot inches wide from just outside the penalty area.

Arsenal’s defensive problems were magnified on 27 minutes as Seaman was beaten for a second time.

Ashley Cole managed to stop Jean-Alain Boumsong’s advance on the edge of the penalty area with a block tackle but the ball simply looped into the air.

Seaman was caught in no man’s land between trying to smother the ball and retreating to his line, while Fadiga simply took advantage by nipping in and nonchalantly lobbing his shot over the keeper’s head.

Seaman’s wistful shake of the head was captured on the giant Highbury video screen.

And as harsh as it may seem, the fact that his reflexes are now being questioned by his critics makes it easy to understand just why he could not quite believe his first-half fortunes.

Arsenal attempted to rally but did not do so convincingly.

Kanu shot across the face of goal, while Henry tangled with Philippe Mexes, who was in outstanding form along with Boumsong at the heart of the Auxerre defence.

Wenger was not rushed into bringing on Pires at half-time in a bid to revive his team’s fortunes, preferring to keep faith in his starting line-up for the time being.

The winger’s presence in emerging to warm up on the touchline was nevertheless warmly welcomed by the home fans.

In the meantime, Henry went searching for a penalty as he chased a through-ball but was more fortunate not to get booked for diving as he waited in vain for keeper Fabien Cool to bring him down.

However, he was far more successful on 53 minutes in bursting down the right flank and unselfishly crossing the ball for Kanu to clip his shot past Cool to pull a goal back.

Auxerre should have restored a two-goal advantage soon afterwards only for Fadiga, Lacheur and Kapo to pay the price of wild over-elaboration, with Kapo eventually denied by a fine save from Seaman. Having survived that threat, Arsenal resumed their own search for an equaliser. It was still not easy going, with the slippery surface seemingly posing almost as much of a problem as the Auxerre defence.

Wenger could wait no longer. With 19 minutes left, on came Pires to replace Gilberto and spirits inside the ground duly rose another notch.

The switch meant Pires taking up a different role in central midfield, rather than swapping with Fredrik Ljungberg, who was out on the left flank. Henry was denied by Cool’s reflexes, but while Arsenal were not panicking, there was little cause for genuine optimism as Auxerre similarly remained unruffled under pressure.

Toure’s introduction to replace Lauren at right-back had little real impact, while Wenger had no attacking options left on the bench as Bergkamp and Francis Jeffers were both absent.

Pires had a late effort which Cool spilled before quickly recovering his composure and that effectively summed up Arsenal’s frustrating evening.

Close, but by no means close enough.

ARSENAL: Seaman, Lauren, Campbell, Cygan, Cole, Ljungberg, Vieira, Silva, Wiltord, Henry, Kanu.

AUXERRE: Cool, Radet, Boumsong, Mexes, Jaures, Faye, Lachuer, Tainio, Fadiga, Mwaruwari, Kapo Obou.