Leeds_United (0) 0 - 4 (1) ArsenalElland Rd, Sunday 16th April 2000. kick-off 4pmFA Carling PremiershipSee below for match reports.Preview
Leeds_United (0) 0 - 4 (1) ArsenalElland Rd, Sunday 16th April 2000. kick-off 4pmFA Carling Premiership
scorers: Henry, Keown, Kanu, Overmars
Arsenal:
Seaman
Dixon Adams Keown Silvinho
Parlour Petit Vieira Ljungberg
Henry (Overmars 73) Bergkamp (Kanu 66)
The game started with a respectful silence in memory
of the 2 Leeds murdered in Istanbul. One of the best observed
silences ever, and it went on for some time before the official
silence began. The Arsenal players then presented their counterparts
with red and white bouquets (and between the dugouts, Arsène
Wenger presnted one to Leeds boss David O'Leary). The Leeds
players distributed the flowers amongst the crowd.
But on the field Arsenal were not in such a sympathetic mood. They rode the home team's early dominance and took advantage of a second half numerical advantage to come away with an emphatic win which puts Arsenal in the driving seat as far as a champions league spot is concerned. Like I said, Leeds did the attacking early on. Keown came across well to cover and clear after Adams lost a header to Alan Smith. Adams also made a crucial header to clear a dangerous cross. And even Freddie Ljungberg, on his 23rd birthday, popped up in the box for a crucial clearance. Silvinho got booked for a late tackle on Bowyer, and then Kelly robbed Ljungberg who was guilty of dallying on the ball in the left corner. Freddie came back and conceded a free kick in that area. It was whipped in to the near post where Vieira headed clear onyl for the ball to ricochet back off Martin Keown, but fortunately out for a corner. This one went to the far post where Bakke headed it into the side netting. Kewell then created their best chance of the game with a fantastic run from the left side of the pitch near the half-way line. He made it into the box on the right hand side. Seaman did well to stand up to him and when the goalie failed to commit himself Kewell chose to pass it back and across the penalty area to Smith. It looked a certain goal but Smith shinned it high. Credit to Dixon and Keown for getting back between Smith and the goal and giving him reason to think. After 15 minutes we had our first meaningful attack. Bergkamp brought the ball down the left and hit a cross-field pass to Henry on the right. Henry beat his man and poked the ball across goal. It was deflected back to Petit whose drive shot brought a world-class save out of Nigel Martyn, who had to dive to tip it onto the post. 5 minutes later, Parlour won a header on the right which fell to Bergkamp. He passed it first-time back to Parlour who came forward down the wing and hit a great cross into the box. Henry got in fron of Woodgate near the spot and placed a header past Martyn. It was somewhat against the run of play, but Arsenal immediately looked a lot more comfortable. Parlour chested a throw into the box in front of him, but it got too far in front and Martyn got across to shepherd it out for a goal kick. On 25 Harte hit a long range free-kick which trundled low towards the corner and Seaman got across slightly unconvincingly to make the save. Half an hour in, and a slip by Woodgate allowed Parlour to get down the right again. This time he hit the cross low and just too far behind Ljungberg, who did well to pulla foot nback and get the shot on target, but it was easy for Martyn. Bergkamp tricked a couple of defenders on the left of the box to create space for a shot. It looked like it was meant as a far post curler, but he actually chipped it into Martyn's hands. Then Henry missed with a frankly crap shot when he had options to either side. Bergkamp had gone into the book with a "nothing" foul, when Bakke's worse one on Petit went unpunished. But a few minutes before half-time any thoughts of a post-match ref gripe from the Arsenal camp went out the window with Harte's sending-off. To be fair to the officials, he did kick out at Bergkamp from the floor (after having been bundled over by Dennis moving into him), but there didn't seem to be much in it. Not that there was any more in Dixon's waving of a hand in Kewell's face a few minutes later. But on another day the decisions could have gone the other way. At the start of the second half Petit got himself booked with some unnecessary roughness near the half way line. Petit had gone down first, and was clearly incensed when Leeds players brought the refs attention to it, accusing Manu of diving. You could practically see the red mist as Petit got up and across Bowyer to commit the foul right in front of the ref and earn a yellow card. Bergkamp picked up a pass from petit and squared for Henry. It was a bit behind him but he did well to retrieve it and compose himself for a shot but again it was placed right at the keeper. Half an hour to go and Leeds took a quick free-kick and got Bakke in clear on the edge of the box (it looked offside to me). But Petit got in a good challenge and the shot went high and wide. Kanu came on for Bergkamp, and a few minutes later we were two up. A Seaman clearance was headed out for a corner at the other end which Petit took from the right. Keown rose 10 yards out from the far post and directed a good header towards goal. But it hit Henry on the 6 yard line and came back out for Keown. He was off-balamce but shaped himself beautifully to get his foot through the ball and whack it home. On 72 minutes Vieira played a nice ball to Henry. Clear on Martyn, he disappointed with a poor finish, low and close to the keeper. A minute later, Overmars was brought on for Henry (and took his striking position with Ljungberg staying on the left). Freddie went on a terrific run down the left and into the box. He beat Kelly for pace but from a narrow angle could only find the side-netting with the shot. Full marks to Freddie for not falling over as soon as he felt Kelly tugging at his shirt in the box. Bowyer then picked up a booking, his 14th of the season which earns him an appointment with the FA to explain his poor disciplinary record. Perhaps they can explain what he was booked for this time, as I couldn't work it out at all. Kanu was back-to-goal on the goal-line and with a couple of defenders in close attendance. He squirmed free and drilled the ball across the face of goal, but no-one was there to tap it in. Then Bakke should probably have pulled one back. Beating the offside trap thanks to Ray Parlour, he could only place his free header over the bar. 8 minutes to go, and Winterburn came on in his new role as cover for Emmanuel Petit. Almost immediately, his replacement at left back went on a mesmerising run from the left wing. He made it into the box and despite losing his balance as he shot he got in a good one and Martyn could only palm it across goal to Kanu who tapped it into the empty net. It was nice to hear the crowd getting behind the Brasilian so vociferously in this game. On the stroke of full-time Vieira's header over the top found Overmars to the left of goal. He controlled it with a great touch as the ball landed, and hit a superb shot across Martyn. There was still time for Overmars to be sent clear by Ljungberg. He appeared to be pulled back but nothing was given. Still, 4-0 at Elland Road has got to be enough to be pretty happy about, even if United are in free-fall at the moment. This takes Arsenal into the coveted 3rd spot with a game in hand. Leeds will be looking to Thursdays UEFA Cup semi second leg and we wish them luck (after all, we wouldn't mind a repeat of this match in the final, would we?) Other reports
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