Leeds finish off fragile Arsenal

It was Arsenal's last punishment in the Premiership to relive in miniature the torments that have torn the title from them. Here again, in a transfixing match, was the elan in attack that could not quite atone for fragility in defence.

There was delirium in the Highbury stands over an exquisite winner, but the joyous pandemonium came in the visitors' corner of the stadium.

The perfect strike by Mark Viduka, in the 88th minute, keeps Leeds United in the top flight because they have a bullet-proof goal difference to preserve them from harm next weekend.

The forward may have an indolent mien, but he has excelled when the Elland Road club's plight has been at its gloomiest and this was the 13th occasion that he has hit the net in his last nine Premiership appearances.

He loped dismissively past Oleg Luzhny from the right and curled a drive into the far corner of the net. It was an incident to make everyone marvel once again that Leeds could ever have brought such anxieties upon themselves. With Harry Kewell excelling, and registering a gorgeous opener, the team had quality in attack that any club might envy.

Those who covet such footballers may be in a position to act, because Leeds, £80 million in debt, must continue to be attentive when any bid is lodged. The fans know all that, but they could excuse themselves the agonising yesterday, realising that the club's troubles are at least alleviated by the continuation of Premiership income that the caretaker manager, Peter Reid, has ensured while earning a £500,000 survival bonus for himself.

Arsenal, for their part, have an FA Cup final to come, but it would be futile to try to tell them that this was not the end of the world. For most of the season it looked inevitable they would retain the championship and, when their supremacy started to crumble, sheer incredulity hampered a line-up who had never expected to be fighting tooth and nail.

The capitulation has been embarrassing. Lauren may have been injured and Sol Campbell suspended, but no club with aspirations can afford to field a back four as haphazard and passive as this. Although Luzhny will be reproached, the regard for Martin Keown cannot divert attention from his unhappy display either.

Leeds came to London with conviction, talent and an ever-increasing recognition that the opposition were at their mercy.

Kewell's goal in the fifth minute was a delight, but Jason Wilcox's pass cut Keown out of the action much too easily. From an unpromising situation outside the area and at an angle on the left, the Australian then produced a drive of supreme technique that bent to elude David Seaman and fly just inside the far post.

Kewell, until he tired, had an intimidating excellence. One skipping run took him delightfully past Ray Parlour and Keown early in the second half. With 15 minutes left it might have been he who delivered the winner but, with the score at 2-2, Seaman made a splendid block from his low shot.

From the corner that followed Thierry Henry cracked an attempt off the far post. Wenger has become too dependent on the new footballer of the year, yet it was stirring to watch the forward's passionate commitment as he took the unhappy state of affairs at Highbury as his personal responsibility.

He levelled the game at 1-1 just beyond the half-hour, heading home a rebound after the unimpressive Paul Robinson had merely eased a 25-yarder from Parlour up and on to the crossbar. Before the interval, Henry also confounded the goalkeeper from distance but Sylvain Wiltord was in an offside position before volleying in.

Leeds were in front once more when Ian Harte's free-kick was diverted into his own net by Ashley Cole's head after 49 minutes. There was a ravishing leveller 14 minutes later as Henry's pass sent Robert Pires behind Danny Mills and Dennis Bergkamp knocked in the cut-back. A similar move that would have given them the lead eluded Bergkamp; and the championship, too, proved beyond Arsenal's reach.

ARSENAL: Seaman, Toure (Kanu 70), Luzhny, Keown, Cole, Wiltord (Pennant 76), Parlour, Silva, Pires (van Bronckhorst 80), Bergkamp, Henry. Subs Not Used: Taylor, Stepanovs. Booked: Bergkamp, Keown. Goals: Henry 31, Bergkamp 63.

LEEDS: Robinson, Mills, Duberry, Radebe, Harte, Kelly, Matteo, Bakke, Wilcox, Viduka, Kewell (Simon Johnson 80). Subs Not Used: Martyn, Bravo, Barmby, Milner. Booked: Viduka. Goals: Kewell 5, Harte 48, Viduka 88. Att: 38,127.

Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).