Just as Arsene Wenger had predicted, an undeniably emphatic message of Champions League intent was hammered out at Highbury tonight - but it was not one produced by his own side.

Deportivo La Coruna handed out a veritable European lesson to The Gunners - just as they had done to Manchester United earlier this season.

The vibrant Spanish side, who have now won home and away against England's two leading sides this season, seized the game by the scruff of the neck with the irrepressible Juan Carlos Valeron's 30th-minute opener.

They tightened their grip with Nourredine Naybet's deflected strike just before half-time and never loosened it thereafter.

Indeed, as Thierry Henry's penalty was saved, it was only David Seaman restating his position as England's first-choice keeper that ensured Arsenal were not completely suffocated.

Arsene Wenger's side are at least not out of it yet. They have much potential which never surfaced in this game.

Bayer Leverkusen's 3-1 victory against Juventus means Arsenal's place in the competition hangs in the balance.

If Arsenal - who go to Turin next week - match the Germans, who are at Deportivo, they will go through - providing Leverkusen do not also win.

If they are both successful, they will be level on 10 points alongside the Spaniards - and the Gunners will miss out as a result of points accumulated by the three at the expense of each other.

Deportivo, a far different prospect to the team that tamely lost 5-1 at Highbury in the UEFA Cup two years ago, however, are already through and deservedly so.

After all, as Wenger insisted on the eve of this game, the winners of Group D must be taken seriously as potential champions.

The team which spoiled Real Madrid's centenary celebrations last week by lifting the Spanish cup, ended Arsenal's 17-match unbeaten European home record in some style.

In doing so, they exposed the Gunners' defensive weakness in the absence of Tony Adams, Martin Keown and Ashley Cole that has lately been masked by their attacking prowess.

Arsenal certainly set a ferocious early pace, with a sublime move ending in Robert Pires' finish being tipped just wide and Dennis Bergkamp's latest ball-juggling masterclass finishing in a volley which clipped the bar.

However, as those chances disappeared, so did Arsenal's hopes.

Deportivo had weathered the early storm and soon came out fighting themselves.

Where they had been forced back early on, wingers Fran and Victor set the pace instead and Patrick Vieira was left to fight a lone midfield battle.

The key though was Valeron. Dropping off in Bergkamp fashion, Arsenal simply did not know how to cope with him.

Sol Campbell and Igor Stepanovs did not push out confidently enough, while Gilles Grimandi did not cover back at all effectively.

In the middle of that indecision, they were torn to shreds with an opening goal straight from Arsenal's own counter-attacking manual.

Starting off in his own half, Fran spotted Enrique Romero steaming past him on the overlap and the full-back cut the ball back to Valeron, who had time and space to pick his spot just inside the far post.

Only Seaman's agility prevented Valeron striking again shortly afterwards, but Arsenal's fragile defence collapsed a second time soon after.

Again Valeron was the pivot of the move, with Naybet striking a low shot which deflected off the sliding Stepanovs over the stranded Seaman.

The Arsenal keeper had to be at his sharpest after the break as Deportivo simply picked off the home side on the break as they committed more and more players forward.

Seaman first saved from Victor, was then saved by his crossbar from Tristan's free-kick.

The Spanish striker's sly foul on Bergkamp almost sparked a melee as tempers rose - but then hope finally arrived.

It came in the shape of Fredrik Ljungberg, who won a penalty within a minute of his introduction as a substitute.

Henry's spot-kick was saved and fellow substitute Kanu failed with a follow-up attempt and was then penalised for backing into keeper Molina as his headed 'goal' was ruled out.

It was desperate stuff as Arsenal toiled in search of a lifeline which never came.

But Deportivo's potent combination of strength and skill could yet save the Gunners against Leverkusen next week - even if Wenger's side cannot redeem themselves.

Teams

Arsenal: Seaman, Luzhny, Stepanovs, Campbell, Lauren, Wiltord (Kanu 64), Vieira, Grimandi (Ljungberg 64), Pires, Henry, Bergkamp.

Subs Not Used: Wright, Dixon, Edu, Inamoto, Tavlaridis.

Booked: Vieira.

D Coruna: Molina, Scaloni, Cesar, Naybet, Romero, Sergio, Mauro Silva, Victor, Valeron (Duscher 79), Fran (Capdevila 71), Tristan (Makaay 85).

Subs Not Used: Nuno, Djalminha, Helder, Hector.

Booked: Victor, Sergio, Scaloni, Molina, Naybet.

Goals: Valeron 30, Naybet 40.

Att: 35,392