Teams
Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon, Bould, Keown, Winterburn, Schwarz, Morrow, Jensen, Parlour, Campbell, Smith Subs: Flatts (Smith 30), Linighan (Jensen 80ish), Harper
Leeds: Lukic, Kelly, Pemberton, Wetherall, Dorigo, Palmer, Radebe, Speed, Whelan, Masinga, Deane Subs: White (Whelan 67), Worthington, Beeney
The same team that played on Monday, not that they were recognisable as such. This game would probably have turned out different had Jensen been awarded a penalty in the opening two minutes. So blatantly was he hauled back by the shirt I cannot beleive that either the linesman or referee failed to notice it. Jensen was subsequently booked for pointing this out to the referee. It really was blatant though. From that moment on the game continued in the ususal manner. Tons of possession, precious few chances. Leeds had clearly come to defend and effectively took Dixon and Winterburn out of the game by deploying Deane and Whelan on the wings to combat their runs. Masinga was left as the lone front runner. Keown showed an amazing talent for finding the touchline and Parlour looked like he'd been on the beers again. Smith was taken off, replaced by Flatts, with a hamstring injury half way through the first half. Leeds scored shortly afterwards after Speed had slid infront of Morrow and hammered the ball forward. Keown and Bould both left the ball to each other, though Bartram looked well placed to gather. Unfortunately he stopped allowing Masinga to cut in and score. This was Leeds only shot in the first 85 minutes. Lukic had been equally untroubled. He saved well from a Campbell header in the first half and was only called into action for a deflected Schwartz shot in the second half. In spite of having no Smith and no big man up front we continued piling in the crosses which the tall Leeds defenders easily dealt with. With 5 mins to go a goal of comical preportions finished the game. Masinga latched on to a long punt up field and ran at the defence. Though he hardly had control on the ball both Koewn and Bould failed to make tackles, as he ran on he took a wild swing at the ball and missed it completely. The ball seemed to run aimlessly to Bartram. He however spilled the ball which still managed to fall to Winterburn. Being incapable of clearing right footed he stabbed the ball clear left footed straight up against Masinga and it rebounded into the net. Linighan came on for the final moments and demonstated how things might had been had Smith been fit be heading home a cross at the far post. So as to deprive us of at least an exciting last three minutes, White crossed and Deane converted a third for Leeds. Leeds were in fairness nearly as rubbish as us and 0-0 would have been a more realistic score line. I'm afraid I would have to blame Bartram for the first two goals thus Leeds have got six points out of us this season thanks to keeping mistakes.
Report by Trevor Collins