Kanu's key role in Arsenal attack plan

Champions' League: Wenger's depleted side to take positive approach against stylish Deportivo despite five successive away defeats in Europe

Starting the second phase of their Champions' League campaign on the north-west coast of Spain tonight, Arsenal must solve the conundrum of how to achieve greater attacking power when suddenly short of strikers. A squad flush with forwards a few weeks ago have to take on Deportivo La Coruña – conquerors of Manchester United at home and away in the previous round – with only Nwankwo Kanu of their senior quintet fully fit.

In the summer the Nigerian seemed surplus to requirements and might well have been sold. Fortunately, in the present circumstances, he decided to stay and will now have a principal role to play in the Riazor Stadium this evening. Neither the non-flying Dennis Bergkamp nor Francis Jeffers, who is likely to need an operation, can play alongside him; Sylvain Wiltord may have to be pressed into service ahead of Thierry Henry, whose ankle injury is worse than his countryman's shoulder. Defensively, Martin Keown, who damaged his ribs in the bruising derby at Tottenham on Saturday, seems certain to be missing.

Arsenal are only here thanks to a 100 per cent home record in the first phase. After losing five successive matches away from Highbury in this competition, scoring only one goal and rarely threatening more, their manager, Arsène Wenger, is more determined than ever to avoid another wimpish performance. "We want to start strongly and not be passive," he said, before admitting with a grin: "I've said that before and we didn't do it. We can't just rely on our home form. The team has the character and the determination to do something away, because we do it in the Premiership."

Perversely, domestic form is just the opposite to Europe, though Wenger believes the figures so far prove that a strong defensive base is the best foundation on which to go forward – even against a classic counter-attacking side like Deportivo: "We've conceded four goals away in the championship and scored 14. When you defend better, you score more. But if you come to La Coruña just to defend, you have no chance."

United tried to hang on to a Paul Scholes goal here in September and found themselves beaten by two strikes in the last five minutes. The late flourish is a characteristic of the unfashionable Spanish League leaders, which their coach, Javier Irureta, attributes to the spirit and confidence built up over his three seasons in charge. "We react well to adversity," he said. "And the team have a lot of self-belief."

That belief was only briefly diminished by a 5-1 defeat at Highbury in the Uefa Cup two seasons ago; a misleading scoreline from a game in which Deportivo had just put themselves right back into contention at 2-1 when their Brazilian playmaker, Djalminha, was sent off. They still won the second leg with a last-minute goal, and went on to become Spanish champions for the first time. At Old Trafford last month, they benefited from the eccentricity of Fabien Barthez, but deserved a 3-2 victory in which the two new Spanish internationals, Juan Carlos Valeron and Diego Tristan, were outstanding.

They are expected to play together in attack, which would mean there would be no place for the Dutchman Roy Maakay, who scored a hat-trick at the weekend. "The decision is giving me not a headache, but a migraine," Irureta admitted. For Arsenal, a draw tonight, with Juventus to come in a fortnight, would look a good result.

Deportivo La Coruña (probable, 4-4-2): Molina; Scaloni, Donato, Naybet, Romero; Victor, Duscher, Sergio, Amavista; Valeron, Tristan.

Arsenal (probable, 4-4-2): Wright; Lauren, Campbell, Upson, Cole; Ljungberg, Vieira, Grimandi (or Van Bronckhorst), Pires; Kanu, Wiltord (or Henry).

Referee: T Hauge (Norway).