If Alex Ferguson managed to squeeze in a viewing of last night's action he may be regretting it. Arsenal closed the gap at the top on his Manchester United side to only one point with a mesmerising display of attacking football which produced four goals inside the first 15 minutes of the second half. "Boring, boring Arsenal" Highbury chimed in mocking tones.
Wimbledon simply did not know what had hit them and if this was Arsenal's reminder to Manchester United that they intend to fight to retain their title to the last it could scarcely have been more emphatic.
Of course United still hold the upper hand. Arsenal have played a game more and must rely on the leaders faltering, but with Ferguson's players facing dates in Turin and Wembley as well as at Old Trafford, who knows?
While United prepared for Turin and the most exacting task in their pursuit of the treble, talk at Highbury was strictly of singles, the FA Cup defeat by United last Wednesday had seen to that.
There was good news for Arsene Wenger, however. Dennis Bergkamp had recovered from a groin injury to try to fulfil his pledge to fire the Gunners to the title after his penalty miss. With Nicolas Anelka dropped to the bench - but definitely not for sale - the Nigerian forward Nwankwo Kanu made a rare start.
Wimbledon have garnered only one point from seven matches since Joe Kinnear's heart attack, but Arsenal must have been wary of treating them lightly - that draw had come against United.
If they needed another warning, it came quickly. Wimbledon, 1-0 victors over Arsenal at Selhurst Park in November, threatened an immediate repeat of that scoreline when Ceri Hughes initiated a break down the left. He picked out Marcus Gayle, whose low cross narrowly eluded Carl Cort at the far post.
That, though, was Arsenal's signal to wake up and typically it was Bergkamp who arose first from his slumbers. Picking up a pass from Emmanuel Petit, the Dutchman conjured a fine dipping shot which the goalkeeper Neil Sullivan managed to kick over acrobatically.
Wave after wave of attacks followed. Within two minutes Sullivan should have been beaten but, when Tony Adams headed Petit's corner back across goal, Patrick Vieira could only shoot over.
Sullivan, of course, had no time to catch his breath. Bergkamp volleyed straight at him, Marc Overmars twice forced him into low saves and Ray Parlour shot narrowly over before finally, inevitably, the breakthrough came.
Overmars was the architect. His dash down the left flank had Kenny Cunningham floundering and his pull-back was diverted by Kanu into the path of Parlour, who shot emphatically past Sullivan.
After the interval the goals which Arsenal had threatened earlier arrived in a flurry as Wimbledon caved in. Within five minutes of the restart Viera had increased the lead, picking up Nigel Winterburn's pass and firing a low shot from outside the area past Sullivan.
Just before the hour three more goals came in quick succession. The first had an element of luck about it. Bergkamp's cross picked out Kanu, whose header hit a post and bounced back to hit Ben Thatcher before nestling in the back of the net. One minute later Bergkamp scored the goal he deserved. Petit and Winterburn combined neatly on the edge of the area to set up the Dutchman, who beat Alan Kimble to score.
Wimbledon were still recovering when Kanu more than justified his selection by adding number five. His exquisite flick set up Vieira and, although Sullivan blocked his shot, the Nigerian was able to knock the rebound into an empty goal.
When Wimbledon finally scored in the 71st minute it can scarcely have been much of a consolation. Alan Kimble's free-kick from the left eluded the Arsenal defence and Carl Cort was able to head past David Seaman unmarked.
Arsenal: Seaman, Vivas, Keown (Bould 89), Adams, Winterburn, Parlour, Vieira, Petit, Overmars, Bergkamp (Diawara 69), Kanu. Subs Not Used: Anelka, Grimandi, Lukic. Goals: Parlour 34, Vieira 49, Thatcher 56 og, Bergkamp 57, Kanu 59.
Wimbledon: Sullivan, Cunningham, Blackwell, Thatcher, Kimble, Hughes, Castledine (Hartson 74), Gayle, Euell (Ainsworth 89), Earle, Cort. Subs Not Used: Heald, Leaburn, Jupp. Booked: Thatcher, Hughes. Goal: Cort 70.
Referee: S Lodge (Barnsley).
