FA PREMIERSHIP/Leeds United ... 1 Arsenal ... 4: The last time Elland Road witnessed something as pitiless as this, most of the current Leeds players were not even born and Southampton were the victims of a famous 7-0 humbling best remembered for the cries of ole that greeted every shimmy, every feint and every moment of keep-ball impudence from Don Revie's side.
Battered and beleaguered, the modern-day Leeds now understand how it feels to be on the receiving end.
Arsenal's performance on Saturday was so mesmerising and brilliant that it invited comparisons with some of the greatest sides and performances. Arsene Wenger spoke of the Real Madrid, Borussia Monchengladbach, Ajax and Liverpool teams of yesteryear but, after a moment's consideration, the manager settled for a comparison with the Holland side of Johan Cruyff, Ruud Krol and Johan Neeskens. "Danger everywhere, tremendous spirit, a privilege to watch," he said. "It was total football." For now it is exhilarating but soon a sense of anti-climax might engulf the Premiership. "We're all fighting for second place now," said the Leeds midfielder Olivier Dacourt. "It was demoralising. They just pass and move, pass and move. You find yourself working for nothing.
"They are better than the Manchester United team who won the treble and they are even better than Real Madrid. Arsene would juggle his squad and I'm sure Arsenal would beat them." Wenger was asked whether Arsenal could beat five-time World Cup winners Brazil and his serene response did not suggest he would be fazed. "It is difficult to say. If you can organise it I can guarantee it will be a sell-out." The statistics would make a substantial case for an Arsenal victory. In trouncing a Leeds side supposedly with title aspirations of their own, Arsenal equalled Manchester United's record of 29 Premiership games unbeaten, scoring for the 47th consecutive time.
Saturday was men against toys. From Pascal Cygan and Sol Campbell in defence, Patrick Vieira and Gilberto Silva in midfield and Nwankwo Kanu and Thierry Henry in attack, there was perspiration and inspiration running through Arsenal's spine.
Ashley Cole, Kolo Toure and Sylvain Wiltord provided width and penetration and, most scarily of all, Dennis Bergkamp, Freddie Ljungberg and Robert Pires were not even involved.
It was Gary Kelly's early demonstration of how far he has fallen since he was the best right-back in England that allowed Arsenal to begin the rout, Ashley Cole pinching the ball off his toe and feeding Toure to put in Kanu for a simple finish.
This was the catalyst for a period of excellence in which Arsenal had 86 per cent of the possession, culminating in Wiltord beating Danny Mills (hopelessly exposed by the indolent Harry Kewell) for Toure to score with a twisting header and, three minutes after half-time, Kanu setting up Henry to toe-poke a shot beneath Paul Robinson.
Wenger's animated response to Leeds's undeserved consolation goal revealed the extent of his professionalism, angrily remonstrating with the substitute Jermaine Pennant for allowing Lee Bowyer a couple of free shots that David Seaman parried before Kewell put in the rebound. At least Pennant could point out it was his pass that dissected the home defence for Kanu to give the score a more accurate reflection of the game.
LEEDS: Robinson, Kelly, Radebe (Duberry 90), Matteo, Mills, Bowyer, Bakke, Dacourt (McPhail 45), Kewell, Smith, Viduka. Subs Not Used: Martyn, Harte, Barmby. Booked: Smith, Dacourt, Bakke, Bowyer. Goals: Kewell 84.
ARSENAL: Seaman, Lauren, Campbell, Cygan, Cole, Toure (Luzhny 72), Vieira, Silva, Wiltord (Pennant 79), Henry, Kanu (Jeffers 88). Subs Not Used: Ljungberg, Shaaban. Booked: Vieira, Campbell. Goals: Kanu 9, Toure 20, Henry 47, Kanu 86.
Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).
