Arsenal stumbled to their second successive defeat and their first loss in the Champions League this season as an impressive Auxerre outfit ran out 2-1 winners at Highbury tonight.
The Gunners, who lost their seven-month unbeaten record against at Everton on Saturday, had gone into the Group A game with a maximum nine points from three games, knowing a win would ensure progress with two games to spare.
But Auxerre stunned Highbury in the eighth minute when striker Olivier Kapo drove a fierce low shot beyond David Seaman. Khalilou Fadiga doubled the lead in the 28th minute following a driving run from defender Alain Boumsong.
Nwankwo Kanu pulled one back eight minutes into the second half.
Group rivals Borussia Dortmund were held to a 1-1 home draw by PSV Eindhoven.
Czech striker Jan Koller opened the scoring for the German champions with a header from a Tomas Rosicky free kick on 10 minutes.
But striker Arnold Bruggink put the visitors level with a superb volley from the edge of the box two minutes into the second half.
Dortmund stay second in the group on seven points, two behind leaders Arsenal.
Auxerre have four points and are still in with a live chance of qualifying for the next round. Eindhoven are bottom of the group on two points from four games.
Results
Spartak Moscow
1-3Liverpool
Arsenal
1-2Auxerre
Dortmund
1-1PSV
Basel
2-2Valencia
Madrid
2-2AEK
Roma
0-0Genk
Ajax
1-1Rosenborg
Lyon
3-3Inter Milan