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If David Seaman and Arsenal had been hoping to return to the sanctuary of Highbury to escape their recent trials and tribulations, they were, sadly, sorely mistaken. For as his team suffered the ignominy of following their first league defeat in 10 months with a shock setback in the Champions League against Auxerre just four days later, Seaman again found himself under the microscope. It was not as if the veteran Arsenal keeper committed another glaring blunder to rival those against Brazil, Bolton and Macedonia. However, he was beaten twice in the opening 27 minutes against Auxerre and hardly covered himself in glory on either occasion. Then again, Seaman, who did make one fine second-half save, was hardly alone in looking unconvincing as this was an Arsenal side playing most of the right notes - just in the wrong order. It is in their response to defeat that truly great teams show their mettle and this was by no means the sort of answer that Arsene Wenger had been looking for after that setback at Everton. Although qualification to the Champions League second group stage is still within reach - at most three points from two games - the idea of back-to-back defeats was simply not on the pre-match agenda of their confident manager. He had insisted the reverse at Goodison Park was the 'start of a new era' rather than the end of one, but while two defeats certainly does not make a crisis, it was still a severe shock to the system. Even Kanu's strike shortly after the interval and the long-awaited return of Robert Pires from injury as a substitute failed to inspire a revival. As for Seaman, who would wish to swap places with him right now? He was given a reassuringly warm welcome by the Highbury crowd but there were just five minutes gone when he committed his first error. He dived at the feet of Benjani as he 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. Seaman did manage to get a hand to the ball yet could not deflect it wide, although, it must be said, his defenders were faring little better ahead of him. Up front, Kanu drilled one effort over the bar after a cut-back by Thierry Henry and then came even closer when he fired another shot inches wide from just outside the penalty area. However, 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, with defensive duo Philippe Mexes and Boumsong in commanding form, they did not do so convincingly as Kanu shot across the face of goal. Henry desperately flung himself to the ground in search of a penalty but recovered his cool shortly afterwards. Bursting clear down the right flank onto a ball from Lauren, the striker unselfishly crossed the ball for Kanu to clip his shot over Cool. Auxerre should have restored a two-goal advantage soon afterwards only to pay the price of wild over-elaboration, with Kapo eventually denied by a fine save from Seaman. Wenger could wait no longer. With 19 minutes left, on came Pires to replace Gilberto, slotting into a new central midfield role, but the expected inspiration and late comeback never quite materialised. Like London buses, you wait months for an Arsenal defeat and then two arrive at once. Just do not ask Wenger to see the funny side. Teams Arsenal: Seaman, Lauren (Toure 77), Campbell, Cygan, Cole, Ljungberg, Vieira, Silva (Pires 71), Wiltord, Henry, Kanu. Subs Not Used: Shaaban, Edu, Pennant, Luzhny, Stepanovs. Booked: Campbell, Vieira. Goals: Kanu 53. Auxerre: Cool, Radet, Boumsong, Mexes, Jaures, Faye, Lachuer, Tainio, Fadiga, Mwaruwari, Kapo Obou. Subs Not Used: Hamel, Grichting, Mathis, Marin, Gonzales, Doumbe, Sirieix. Booked: Boumsong, Faye. Goals: Kapo Obou 8, Fadiga 27. Attendance: 35,206 Referee: Donenisco Messina (Italy). |