- guardian.co.uk, Thursday March 2 2000 22.09 GMT
Kick off 8pm
Arsenal: Seaman; Dixon, Keown, Luzhny, Silvinho; Ljungberg, Grimandi, Petit, Overmars; Bergkamp, Henry. Subs: Winterburn, Adams, Suker, Manninger, Parlour, Malz, Kanu.
Deportivo: Songo'o; Pablo, Donato, Naybet, Romero; Jokanovic, Mauro Silva, Conceicao, Flores; Djalminha, Makaay. Subs: Schurrer, Pauleta, Fran, Scaloni, Kouba, Victor, Fernando.
1 The Spanish league leaders get the game under way, having threatened to attack Arsenal on the break. An early free-kick from Djalminho wide on the Deportivo right is swung in on goal but Seaman deals with it competently.
3 Flores and Dixon tangle on Arsenal's right by-line as the visitors have the better of the early exchanges without either side threatening
5 Goal: 1-0 Arsenal Arsenal's first real attack brings instant reward. Henry tricks his way round two defenders on the Arsenal left and curls over an inviting cross, seemingly for Bergkamp, but the ball evades the Dutchman only for Dixon to arrive behind him to score with a fine downward header.
8 The Spaniards are rattled, Songo'o struggling to keep out a Bergkamp header but a subsequent Arsenal corner is better defended.
10 A fluent Deportivo buildup, orchestrated by Flores, induces a mistake by Keown whose weak header falls straight to Makaay but the Dutchman can make nothing of the half-chance.
15 Bergkamp goes close with a typical piece of skill, taking a difficult ball on his chest in the penalty area before turning on the proverbial sixpence and shooting but Song'o is there.
18 Booking for Conceicao for a wild lunge on Ljungberg, who moments later finds space in the penalty area from Henry's pass. But the Swede's indecision allows the Spanish defence to clear for a corner from which Keown heads over. At the other end Conceicao loops a header just over Seaman's bar
22 Bergkamp's tenacity wins Arsenal a corner on the left which he takes himself but this time the ball sails harmlessly over. Meanwhile the Arsenal defence, with the Russian Luzhny in for the injured captain Adams, has settled down after a nervous moment or two and the Spaniards are finding it hard to make headway.
25 Out of the blue, a bolt from Conceicao who hits a rocket of a free-kick from fully 40 yards which Seaman is grateful just to parry after a slight deflection off Petit. A warning shot for Arsenal
29 Goal: 2-0 Arsenal Bergkamp and Henry are beginning to pull the strings for the Gunners, and after one attack is repelled Arsenal come straight back at the Spaniards, Bergkamp rolling the ball into the path of Overmars on the right and his low, first-time cross is tucked away at the near post by Henry who has timed his run to perfection. A wonderful goal. Moments later a fierce Bergkamp drive is turned aside by Songo'o
33 Now it's Arsenal playing on the break as Deportivo search for the away goal that would redress the balance. But the home defence is solid and Bergkamp, Henry and Overmars are a constant threat whenever a Spanish attack breaks down
38 Overmars, only just back from injury, is felled in a challenge by Jokanovic, requiring lengthy treatment, but happily the Dutch flyer, playing predominantly on the right for a change, is fit to resume. A glancing header from Flores at a corner drops just wide of Seaman's right-hand post.
41 Songo'o rescues Deportivo, diving at the feet of Bergkamp who had escape on to Overmars' long pass while Henry is just a fraction away from connecting with a flying header after Bergkamp cross. The Gunners looking well in control and you'd expect more goals to come for them.
45 Makaay tangles with Keown on the touchline but the England centre-back, as usual, gives no quarter with the Gunners determined to go in at half-time with a clean sheet, which they manage after Dixon's late tackle to deny the raiding Flores in the last action of the half.
Half-time: Arsenal 2 - 0 Deportivo
46 No changes at half-time as Arsenal kick off. Bergkamp, straight into the action, is fouled by Donato on the Arsenal left but his free-kick is wasted as it sails harmlessly wide of goal.
51 A quiet start to the second half but Keown still manages to pick up a booking that will rule him out for the second leg.
53 Deportivo Substitution: Victor for Jokanovic. 54 Goal Deportivo: 2-1
Penalty for Deportivo! Ljungberg is adjudged to have nudged Conceicao from Makaay's neat little through-ball. Arsenal complain but to avail and Djalminho tucks away the penalty. Djalminho though is booked moments later for diving and he too will miss a second leg which is suddenly not the formality it was begining to look in the first half.
60 Red card Deportivo Grimandi fouls Djalminha who reacts a little angrily and Grimandi writhes around in apparent agony. There's a general ruckus involving several players, Grimandi picks up a yellow card for the foul but for the Brazilian Djalminha it's not a second yellow card but a straight red. A bit harsh, but a stroke of luck for the Gooners.
65 Arsenal Substitution: Kanu for Overmars.
66 Goal Arsenal 3-1 The lanky Nigerian wastes no time in making his presence felt, winning a free-kick on the right-angle of the Deportivo penalty area. Petit swings over a vicious left-footer to the far post and there's Henry unmarked to nod in his second of the night and put the hosts back in command.
68 Deportivo Substitution: Fernando for Flores
74 Deportivo Substitution Pauleta for Makaay
76 Arsenal Substitution: Suker for Henry.
77 Goal Arsenal: 4-1
It's that man Kanu. Taking advantage of a terrible defensive blunder, he latches on to the arrant back header and simply strolls past poor old Songo'o and walks the ball into the net for a sublime goal.
80 Songo'o restores some self-respect with a fine save from Petit after good work by Kanu and Bergkamp.
82 Goal Arsenal: 5-1
Kanu earns a free-kick, brought down by Donato 30 yards out. Bergkamp hits it, the ball takes a wicked deflection off the wall and wrong-foots the hapless Songo'o before sailing into the unguarded half of the net. Unbelievable Gooner glory.
88 Dispirited Deportivo have little left to offer and now it's just a question of whether Arsenal can make it six which they nearly do when Ljungberg's flick is headed on by Suker and Kanu's stinging volley is well blocked by old Songo'o.
94 After four minutes of added time, Arsenal's triumphant night is complete. As their fans sing odes to the suspended Patrick Vieira, he and his team-mates can look forward to the second leg in Spain with a fair degree of confidence.
Full-time: Arsenal 5 - 1 Deportivo
