Kanu’s blast at Gunners party

Leeds, who grabbed a late consolation through Harry Kewell, remain in fifth place. The win also helped the North London club make further assaults on the record books. They have now scored in an all-time English professional record of 47 consecutive matches, while this was their 29th successive unbeaten game, equalling Manchester United’s League record.

Another away win would mean they have not lost on their travels for 23 games and counting, another all-time English League record. But statistics do not do dustice to the quality of their football. Leeds, themselves aspirants to the title and enjoying home advantage, cowered in the face of the Arsenal onslaught and suffered their fourth defeat of the campaign. Leeds manager Terry Venables had tried to calm tensions between these bitter rivals before kickoff.

But, while his own players subsequently lost their tempers and their discipline, Arsenal maintained a run of form that makes them clear favourites to retain the Premier League title.

England striker Alan Smith — ironically praised by Wenger 24 hours earlier for learning to control his temper — set the tone for Leeds’ miserable afternoon as early as the sixth minute, earning a booking for a foul on Toure.

Arsenal struck again after 20 minutes. Sylvain Wiltord picked up a loose ball from Danny Mills on the right flank, beat Mills and then Olivier Dacourt and crossed to Toure, who headed past a bemused Robinson. Venables revealed in his match programme notes that he had brought forward a scheduled team meeting this week to try to smooth over their problems. It took Leeds 41 minutes to muster their first shot — a Kewell effort saved by David Seaman — but after just 77 seconds of the second half, Arsenal fans were back in dreamland.

Kanu broke across the halfway line, supplied Henry and the France international raced into the area to slip the ball underneath Robinson’s body for the third. Smith hit the crossbar for Leeds before Kewell volleyed home Leeds’s goal after 84 minutes.

A minute later, Arsenal stormed back, with Kanu latching onto a pass from substitute Jermaine Pennant to make it four. But by then, the match, which had been simmering, had boiled over. It was soured, in particular, by a challenge between Pascal Cygan, the French defender making his full Arsenal debut, and Lee Bowyer.

With Bowyer grounded after a tackle, Cygan appeared to aim a kick at the England international’s chest and chin, but escaped punishment from referee Alan Wiley. Bowyer was later booked for a foul on Cygan, and joined Smith, Dacourt, Eirik Bakke, Vieira and Sol Campbell in the referee’s book. (Reuters)