By Rich B
November 2 2003

Many around Elland Road, and even nuetral supportersmust be asking 'Can it get any worse for Leeds?' - A home tie to the league leaders was not the ideal fixture in the circumstance.

The weekend started out badly after it was revealed that Mark Viduka had been dropped following internal disciplinary problems and was understood to have driven away from the ground.  Although Peter Reid said after the game that it was private matter that would be dealt with internally, we understand that the Duke has been turning up late repeatedly and arrived late for a pre-match get together on Saturday.  His future at the club looks even more ominous now than it did before - and that's saying something.

With Viduka out, Bridges made his first start of the season.  Two other changes from the side beaten by Man Utd in mid-week - Pennant returned at the expense of Milner and Batty returned to the side.

It was nearly a dream start for United.  Some good passing in midfield led to cross from Kelly on the right.  Sakho met the ball on the volley but Lehman got down well to save.  The early signs were good and Leeds looked substantially better than there standing at the bottom of the Premiership.  Pennant was fired up for the game and Leeds were holding possession well.

It was on the seventh minute mark that the difference between the two sides showed.  Ashley Cole fed Henry who calmly step aside the chasing defenders and slotted home.  It was the first real chance to Arsenal but they capitalised straight away.  A minute later it would have been two had the Offside flag not been raised to rescue Leeds. The defence were proving to be easily penetrable again!

Leeds were not unsettled however and the good work in the opening minutes continued.  Leeds though were unable to get anywhere near the Arsenal goal despite the lions share of possession and the difference in class between the two sides was beginning to show.

On 16 minutes, Arsenal doubled their lead when Pires latched on to cross to side foot the ball home - looking at the game it was hard to understand how Leeds were two goals down and yet you could only say that Arsenal deserved it.  Leeds continued to push but for all of the hard work they put in, Arsenal seemed to just control the play and broke at will.  On the 32 Minutes, Arsenal made it three.  Parlour fed Berkamp whose shot rebounded off the post.  If there was one player you wouldn't want it falling to it would be Henry, needles to say it fell to Henry who slotted home his second of the game.  3-0 down with 60 minutes to play - it wasn't looking good!  Arsenal, still almost at strolling pace could have had a couple more.  Robinson saved well from Berkamp and Henry missed his chance of a hat-trick when he fired over the bar.

You could not even say that Leeds must have breathed a sigh of relief when the half-time whistle came but they were not playing badly but were being outclassed.  I doubt many managers envied Peter Reid's task at Half time

Milner came on at half time for Bridges and whilst Leeds could not have expected to win the match, they certainly set out to make sure they played their share in it.  Any hope of a respectable score line took a dent though on 50 minutes when Gilberto scored from a cross.  A simple goal but one that at least had a number of white shirts around for a change.

Still Leeds pushed and whilst worrying that they were trying yet losing, it was pleasing too see them having a go.  Last year under El Tel was frustrating as the team simply didn't perform on the day - here at least they were performing, something that was acknowledged by the crowd.  There are few teams that can boast that 40,000 people will still sing their hearts out when their team is 4-0 down but that's exactly what happened at Elland Road.

Lennon came on for Sakho on the hour mark and as usually happens, made an impact straight away.  His youthful enthusiasm was evident and within two minutes, had fired a cross that Smith did well to stretch and meet - 4-1 - Could a fight back be on?   It certainly sparked some confidence into Leeds.  Smith hit the post after being set up by Batty and Leeds continued to push forward.

Into the final ten minutes and it was Arsenal who finished on top.  Leeds had to sit deeper and fight for the ball more and no further chances were created.  On the day, Leeds battled well and played some good football but against a side of such class, they never really stood a chance.

As if the score wasn't bad enough, Leicester choose this weekend to end their five match run of straight defeats to beat Blackburn 2-0 - this pushed them above Leeds on goal difference and left the Yorkshire side firmly at the bottom of the Premiership table for the first time in the History of the Elite league.