That was the perfect spotlight on a pivotal game, in which Arsenal needed a bright start to ease the nerves that have infested Highbury in recent weeks. It was Arsenal… Ring Spotlight Camera (wired), If Leeds were stunned by going behind early on they did not show it, and the visitors began to string passes around as they tried to fashion an opening. 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. A Ruud Van Nistelrooy hat-trick and a David Beckham strike earned United a 4-1 win over Charlton the day before Arsenal welcomed Leeds to Highbury. Gilberto Silva headed against the crossbar from a Robert Pires corner in the third minute and the woodwork was still wobbling when Kewell struck. Wiltord wasted a free far-post header before Bergkamp hauled Arsenal level again with his first Premiership goal at Highbury this season. Read about Arsenal v Leeds in the Premier League 2002/03 season, including lineups, stats and live blogs, on the official website of the Premier League. Although Arsenal started the better of the two teams, it was United midfielder Paul Scholes who scored the only goal of the game which ensured their progress into the final.[179]. 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. 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. The capitulation has been embarrassing. A similar move that would have given Wenger's men the lead just eluded Bergkamp; and the championship, too, has proved beyond Arsenal's reach. Saturday 01 November 2003. Instead, it fell to Henry to make it five. In one of the more forgettable Champions League finals of all-time, Milan and Juventus drew 0-0 at Old Trafford before the Rossoneri wrapped it up 2-3 on penalties. The first of many chances fell to Sylvain Wiltord after three minutes, the Frenchman guiding a shot well wide from Pires' cross after Gary Kelly had mis-hit a clearance. Lyndon Dykes Barnsley, Arsenal 5 - 0 Leeds. Wiltord and Bergkamp combined to put Pires through and he sweetly curled the ball beyond Robinson. Fergie’s men were eight points behind champions Arsenal at one stage but bounced back from consecutive defeats against Blackburn and Middlesbrough either side of Christmas Day to remain unbeaten in the league for the remainder of the campaign. 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. A similar move that would have given Wenger's men the lead just eluded Bergkamp; and the championship, too, has proved beyond Arsenal's reach. On this day in 1945: England World Cup winner Alan Ball was born, Premier League return is a thorny issue for outspoken Danny Rose, Richard Masters says Premier League must stay close to science. The team played in a 4–4–2 formation throughout the season, with two wide midfielders. Hitting the ball so hard just as the ball is about to bounce for the third time, his entire body is off the floor at the point of contact, which only adds to the aesthetic. Pennant, Kanu, Stepanovs. Unfortunately for the Gunners, things did not go their way. Anthony Menson Amuah, The Australian winger should have added a second on 12 minutes when Mark Viduka sent him scampering clear down the right. Saturday 28 September 2002. Henry's solo run and finish made it 5-0 before Robinson saved from Jose Reyes. Old Chinese Banknotes, “We had to overcome injuries early in the season but we had to bite the bullet and take the poison.”. Stats and fancy-dan technology in football had yet to really take off, the shirts were baggy full of block colour advertising mobile phones and cider, the game was played at a traditional ground that’s now home to apartments, and Leeds fans didn’t yet hate Harry Kewell. Those who covet such footballers may be in a position to act because Leeds, £80m in debt, must continue to be attentive when any bid is lodged. All rights reserved. With Harry Kewell excelling, and registering a gorgeous opener, Leeds had quality in attack that any club might envy. In such delicately balanced situations, an inch either way can decide futures in an instant. Wenger sees his side surrender their Premiership crown, Have your say on the 606 Premiership page. In 2005, the Glazer family took ownership of Manchester United, which was valued at £800 million. In a remarkable match, Leeds led three times to make a mockery of their league position. Gilberto once more threaded a pass through to Henry and the striker coolly slotted past Robinson for his 28th Premiership goal of a remarkable campaign. Fred Berry Jr Net Worth, Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira tussles with Leeds' Mark Viduka. "[177], Manchester United were Arsenal's opponents for the semi-final, staged at Villa Park on 3 April 2004. Bakke, Wilcox, Viduka, Kewell. Last Updated: Sunday, 4 May, 2003, 17:02 GMT 18:02 UK Email this to a friend Printable version Viduka hands title to Man Utd. In truth, Arsenal, who were once so far ahead in the table, have not even been able to treat the nation to a nerve-jangling finale. Another neat move saw Bergkamp jink his way into the box and when Duberry handled, up stepped Henry to cheekily chip the resulting spot-kick down the middle of Robinson's goal. For the greater part of the season it looked inevitable that 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. [99] Arsenal's victory by four goals to one was identical to the scoreline in the corresponding fixture of last season. 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 responsibilty. Arsenal: Seaman, Toure, Luzhny, Keown, Cole, Wiltord, Parlour, We don’t care about any of that, though, really. Premier League chief says clubs haven’t raised the issue of scrapping relega... Premier League chief says clubs haven’t raised the issue of sc... Jose is the special one in Monday’s Home Tour action, UEFA not thinking about amending Champions League qualification, Atalanta and Legnano mourn the death of 19-year-old Andrea Rinaldi. Subs: Martyn, Bravo, Barmby, Sunday 04 May 2003. Team Talk - Rashford makes a Man Utd fan's day! What we’re concerned with is a game Arsenal played at Highbury on May 4, with a sinking but not yet sunk Leeds United as visitors. Five days after the Arsenal victory, Reid was confirmed as the club’s manager, although he was sacked six months later. Leeds survived - a word that was underlined by Viduka two minutes from time. "[32] Glenn Moore of The Independent wrote of Arsenal's chances: "They will be thereabouts, but unless Wenger finally puts his faith in youth, and the likes of Jérémie Aliadière, Jermaine Pennant and Phillipe Senderos repay him, they may lack the depth to sustain a title campaign. That’s an Arsenal team playing at Highbury that includes Henry, Vieira, Cole, Pires, Gilberto and Seaman, wearing that O2 sponsored shirt that was the calling card of their last truly great side. But the Gunners did not have to wait too long to go ahead. Championship returns to Old Trafford as Arsenal's bid to make history ends with limp defeat against rejuvenated Leeds. Leeds: Robinson, Kelly, Duberry, Caldwell, Harte, Pennant, Radebe (Barmby 72), Matteo, Milner, Smith, Viduka (Simon Johnson 84).Subs not used: Lennon, Kilgallon, Carson. Making the most of what is at best a hopeful punt, Harry Kewell watches the ball over his shoulder and allows it to bounce twice before putting his left foot through it from an impossible angle, spanking the ball into the corner despite the best efforts of a flailing David Seaman, who can’t have been expecting him to take it first time. Paul Robinson was tested by a low Henry effort which served as a warning shot that Arsenal were quick to follow up. Picking the ball up on the halfway line, the 26-year-old raced at the heart of the Leeds defence, even staying on his feet after a trip from Kelly, to beat the advancing Robinson yet again. [171] Henry believed Arsenal's good cup form showed they were "interested" in the competition and hoped their success would continue. This goal is a perfect representation of where English football was in 2003, allowing us to see how far it’s come since. The let-off inspired Arsenal, who have not failed to score a Premiership goal at Highbury for more than two years. Arsenal used a total of 34 players during the 2003–04 season and there were 15 different goalscorers. When Duberry handled up stepped Henry to dink in the resulting penalty and he completed his fifth Arsenal hat-trick by side-footing past Paul Robinson. What would become a famous 3-2 away win and last hurrah for the season, the victory inadvertently helped Manchester United secure the title, underlining just how badly Leeds couldn’t catch a break at that point in their existence. It was the third successive season in which Harte has scored a Premiership goal at Highbury, but none have proved as crucial as this. Arsène Wenger has limited means but he needs a batch of fresh defenders. Milner, Simon Johnson. [175], In the fifth round, Arsenal played Chelsea at Highbury. Ashley Cole was adjudged to have fouled Viduka and Harte slammed a low free-kick beyond Seaman with the aid of a double deflection off Cole and Gilberto. Viduka appeared to be offside when he received the ball in the 89th minute, but he pushed on regardless and bent a shot beyond David Seaman and into the far corner. With Manchester United beating Charlton Athletic 4–1 on 3 May 2003, Arsenal, a day later, needed a win against Leeds United to restore any hope of finishing top of the league. [141] Henry gave Arsenal the lead, with a long range shot that swerved past goalkeeper Roy Carroll. Houiller's Liverpool then reclaimed control in controversial circumstances on 57 minutes, courtesy of the quick thinking of Danny Murphy. 2002/2003; Championship; League One; League Two; National League; National Leag… Non League Pr… Non League Di… FA Cup; League Cup; Community Shield; EFL Trophy; FA Trophy; FA Vase; Alan Turvey T… Southern Leag… Northern Prem… BBFA Senior Cup; Bedfordshire … Birmingham Se… Cheshire Seni… 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. Here again, in a transfixing match, was the élan in attack that could not quite atone for fragility in defence. © 2020 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Having sacked Terry Venables and replaced him with Peter Reid, this was one of their final acts of resistance before relegation in the following season. It was to be a very long season indeed. Having responded well once, Leeds could not rise to the challenge again, and Arsenal started to dominate. Harry Kewell and Ian Harte twice put Leeds in front to keep Arsenal on the back foot in a game they needed to win to keep alive their dream of retaining the title. Robert Pires stunned Leeds by curling home Dennis Bergkamp's pass early on and Henry coolly slotted in number two after Michael Duberry's mistake.
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