Arsenal - 5 Leeds Utd - 0 When Arsenal lifted the championship in 2002, the players bowed to the injured Robert Pires in recognition of the part he played in that success.
This time they will surely fall at the feet of Thierry Henry.
For all that this season has been a team effort, Henry stands out. By scoring four goals last night he led the rout of a Leeds team whose Premiership place looks more vulnerable than ever.
Not content with completing his second hat-trick in three matches, Henry went one better to take his season's tally to 38.
When questions were asked of Arsenal before their recent game at home to Liverpool, it was Henry who responded with a brilliant treble. Here again he was the star and, as against Liverpool, the impressive Robert Pires got the other goal. Arsenal now need a maximum six points for the title and could win it at Spurs next weekend if Chelsea and Manchester United lose today.
Few had expected anything other than an Arsenal victory, even if the Leeds manager had spent the build-up insisting his team were capable of taking at least a point. The general feeling was that the two 4-1 victories chalked up by Arsene Wenger's team at Elland Road this season were a more significant pointer to events than Leeds's 3-2 win here last May.
Leeds success that day has not been forgotten by Arsenal. It handed Manchester United the championship as well as securing Leeds's place in the Premiership. This season Arsenal have no intention of surrendering their league lead. "It's all still in front of us," Wenger stated in his programme notes, "and these players have enough experience to ensure they are not complacent."
With Arsenal three goals up just after the half-hour, complacent was the last word that sprang to mind. They could have had five before half-time. Some of their attacking was too quick and clever for Leeds, although for the 20 minutes between Robert Pires scoring and Henry adding the first of his four they were largely on the back foot as Leeds competed well.
Most Arsenal fans must have expected an onslaught from their team after Pires had scored after a typically fluent move.
Leeds started with four central defenders, including Lucas Radebe and Dominic Matteo in the middle of midfield because of injuries, but even that was not looking to be defensive enough.
No one was close to preventing Arsenal constructing and Pires completing that early strike. Wiltord's touch enabled Dennis Bergkamp to hit the sort of fine through ball he has produced so many times for Arsenal, and Pires ran clear to curl a powerful shot beyond Paul Robinson.
That, though, was not the signal for Arsenal to continue in the same fashion. Much of their passing was sloppy and Leeds were partly responsible for that happening. The determination of Eddie Gray's players was plain as they challenged hard and pressed Arsenal back for a sustained period without creating any notable chances. Unusually, the majority of the game was being played in Arsenal's half.
Alan Smith was scampering about with occasional menace and it required a well-timed tackle by Sol Campbell to deny him. Arsenal were not looking comfortable defending the set-pieces or crosses, and the sight of Gael Clichy slicing a clearance past his own woodwork told of the team's troubles.
Central to much of Leeds's good work was Radebe, who was not only winning plenty of ball against Patrick Vieira and Gilberto Silva but distributing it sensibly. Only Leeds's lack of telling creativity exposed the gulf between the sides.
Little was being seen of Arsenal as an attacking force but there was always a feeling that one slick break would follow and, in the 27th minute, they scored through Henry from the sort of sudden burst which makes them so dangerous. Henry stayed onside cleverly to burst on to Gilberto's pass and cut into the area before finishing with a low shot.
If that dealt a big blow to Leeds, worse soon followed. Another Arsenal goal, another for Henry and again the result of some excellent play.
Wiltord flicked a return pass to Bergkamp with his heel and the Dutchman's attempt to lift the ball over Duberry was stopped by the defender's arm. Henry cheekily chipped the penalty over Robinson's diving frame.
Leeds's battling qualities have been widely praised over recent weeks but they looked a dispirited bunch even before Henry got his third just after half-time.
Again Gilberto was the provider and once more Henry had too much pace for Leeds's defenders. He ran clear to beat Robinson and then added the latest touch to his brilliant season. After bursting between four defenders with a run which started not far inside Leeds's half, he shot past Robinson. With 38 goals this season the striker has scored only two fewer than Leeds have managed as an entire side.
ARSENAL: Lehmann; Lauren, Campbell, Toure, Clichy, Wiltord, Silva (Edu 69), Vieira, Pires (Parlour 72), Henry, Bergkamp (Reyes 72). Subs not used: Keown, Stack. Goals: Pires 6, Henry 27, 33 pen, 50, 67.
LEEDS UNITED: Robinson; Kelly, Duberry, Caldwell, Harte, Pennant, Radebe (Barmby 72), Matteo, Milner, Smith, Viduka (Simon Johnson 84). Subs not used: Lennon, Kilgallon, Carson.
Referee: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).
