Two goals in the last 12 minutes by the substitute Kanu and the outstanding Dennis Bergkamp all but assured Arsenal of a place in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals as they overwhelmed the Spanish league leaders Deportivo La Coruna in a display of pace, power and, most importantly, goals at Highbury last night.
With the exception of the suspended Patrick Vieira, the Arsenal manager could choose from a full complement of players. And he surprised everyone by dropping not only Kanu and Ray Parlour to the bench but, most significantly, the captain Tony Adams. Last week Adams said he had been "kicking butt" in training. Now he was kicking his heels.
The unenviable task of filling Adams's boots fell to the Ukranian Oleg Luzhny. Also drafted in were Gilles Grimandi, Marc Overmars and Thierry Henry, and the pace of the latter two was instrumental to Arsenal's fantastic start.
The first goal arrived after only five minutes. Henry, a constant menace with his pace, was the architect. He controlled Martin Keown's pass near the left touchline, cut back past the 37-year-old Donato and crossed to the far post where Lee Dixon finished with a powerful header.
Not long after, two Bergkamp corners further exposed Deportivo's vulnerability in the air. From the first Keown sent a header inches over. Then Henry headed just over. Arsenal's second arrived just before the half-hour. Bergkamp sent his compatriot Overmars scampering down the right flank and from Overmars's cross Henry nipped in front of two defenders to score at the near post.
It was hard to believe Deportivo were the best team in Spain. There was no doubting their skill in attack, where the Argentine Turu Flores showed flashes of magic on the left flank. But the defence looked shaky every time Arsenal poured forward and within a minute of the start of the second half Overmars again went close.
There was bad news for Arsenal in the 52nd minute when Martin Keown was booked for a foul on Turu Flores which means he misses next week's second leg. Then shortly afterwards, Deportivo won a penalty. Freddie Ljungberg was adjudged to have fouled Flavio and Djalminha impudently chipped in a penalty.
Things turned dramatically back in Arsenal's favour in the 65th minute when Djalminha, booked shortly before, was sent off after a clash with Grimandi.
To Highbury's relief and delight, Arsenal wasted little time in making their numerical advantage count. Emmanuel Petit swung in a left-footed free-kick from the right flank and Henry rose unmarked to head in emphatically at the far post.
ARSENAL: Seaman, Dixon, Keown, Luzhny, Grimandi, Silvinho, Ljungberg, Petit, Overmars (Kanu 66), Bergkamp (Parlour 83), Henry (Suker 76). Subs Not Used: Winterburn, Adams, Manninger, Malz. Booked: Keown, Ljungberg, Grimandi. Goals: Dixon 5, Henry 30, 67, Kanu 78, Bergkamp 83.
DEPORTIVO LA CORUNA: Songo'o, Pablo, Naybet, Mauro Silva, Romero, Djalminha, Conceicao, Donato, Jokanovic (Victor 53), Makaay (Pauleta 74), Flores (Fernando 68). Subs Not Used: Schurrer, Fran, Scaloni, Kouba. Sent Off: Djalminha (61). Booked: Conceicao, Djalminha, Fernando. Goals: Djalminha 55 pen.
Referee: Atanas Ouzounov (Bulgaria).
