The historic Leeds United victory at Arsenal that even Manchester United cheered

A first ever league clash at The Emirates Stadium.

Leeds had already been gone from the Premier League for two years by the time the Gunners took in their first game at their new stadium against Aston Villa in August 2006.

United's league clashes against Arsenal came at the club's famous Highbury Stadium and Leeds' final visit there brings back sore memories.

Thierry Henry bagged a four-timer as Arsene Wenger's side ran riot in a 5-0 victory of April 2004 as part of the season that the Whites went down.

Yet it was a different story the previous May as Mark Viduka's 88th-minute winner kept Peter Reid's Whites in the division through a thrilling 3-2 victory that remains United's last win of any kind at Arsenal.

The victory also ended Arsenal's title charge and handed the 2002-03 Premiership title to Leeds' arch rivals Manchester United.

Leeds had finished fifth the previous season but David O'Leary had departed in the summer to be replaced by Terry Venables who himself only lasted until March.

By then, a club with spiralling debts after their huge spends and missing out on repeat qualification for the Champions League had already sold Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Keane, Robbie Fowler, Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer whilst Olivier Dacourt had been loaned to Roma with his departure also inevitable.

Former Sunderland boss Reid was brought in March with just eight games left tasked with keeping a sliding Whites in the division.

And victory at Highbury on Sunday, May 4, 2003 ensured it was mission accomplished though in the end United's troubles were only just beginning in the longer term.

Arsenal were denied the opening goal by the woodwork as Martin Keown's header from a corner rattled back off the crossbar with 'keeper Paul Robinson beaten.

And instead Leeds took a fifth-minute lead in scintillating style as a long ball from Jason Wilcox released Harry Kewell who was under pressure from two defenders yet fired home a rasping effort from the edge of the box into the bottom right corner with what was to prove his last goal for the club as the Australian then joined Liverpool in the summer.

His strike at Highbury put the Whites in front but the lead only lasted for 26 minutes as Arsenal drew level when Ray Parlour's shot from all of 35 yards out was saved by Robinson high on to the post only for Thierry Henry to head home the rebound.

Leeds went back ahead just three minutes after the restart when Ian Harte netted at Highbury for the third consecutive season.

A Whites free kick on the edge of the box always spelled danger with Harte about and the Irishman's low effort from 25 yards flashed through the box and a crowd of players before beating David Seaman.

Back came the Gunners as three class acts combined for a second equaliser that went in three minutes after the hour.

Henry this time turned creator as his neat pass released substitute Robert Pires down the left wing.

Pires then raced into the area past Danny Mills and supplied a perfect cutback for Dennis Bergkamp to poke home a finish into the roof of the net despite the attentions of the Whites defence.

From another flowing Gunners move Sylvain Wiltord and Bergkamp combined to set up Henry whose curling effort from the edge of the box bounced back off the base of the post.

Yet Reid's side provided one last sting in the tail in the 88th minute through sheer brilliance from Viduka and also skipper Dominic Matteo.

As the clock ticked down towards the 90 minute marker, Matteo stormed forward from his uncustomary midfield role midfield role and released Viduka with a high ball down the right.

The Australian was still some 35 yards from goal yet made his way into the Gunners box via a cushioned header and neat turn and then supplied a brilliant finish into the far left corner.

Finally, this time there was no third Gunners comeback, the title was Manchester United's and Leeds were safe - at least for one more year

Reid's side then ended their season with a 3-1 win at home to Aston Villa and eventually finished 15th and five points clear of the dropzone as Sunderland, West Brom and West Ham all went down.

Yet there was to be no escape the following season as more stars departed and even club legend Eddie Gray could not save the Whites after taking the hotseat following Reid's sacking in November.

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/yorkshire-evening-post-launch-leeds-united-only-digital-subscription-ahead-premier-league-campaign-2967964

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Thank you Laura Collins