Goals from Ian Harte and Mark Viduka in either half gave Leeds United a deserved 2-1 victory over Premiership rivals Arsenal in a fiery encounter at Highbury this evening. David O'Leary's men had two players sent-off in the final quarter but showed typical character and determination to take the three points and maintain their 100% start to the season. Sylvain Wiltord scored the home side's goal in the 32nd minute to cancel out Irish full back Harte's clever free kick three minutes earlier, but Viduka had the final say with a stunning goal in the 53rd minute to give Leeds the three points.
Referee Jeff Winter will no doubt make the headlines on Wednesday following a series of controversial decisions, most notably on Harte's free-kick which he allowed to stand despite the fact that David Seaman was still lining up his wall as the Irishman struck the ball. He also deservedly sent-off Lee Bowyer and Danny Mills for second bookable offences in a stormy final 13 minutes as Leeds grimly held on to secure their first win at Highbury since 1994. Eirik Bakke, Olivier Dacourt, Bowyer and Mills were all booked in a frantic opening 20 minutes with Arsenal taking the early initiative, but despite good efforts from Wiltord and Adams, it was the visitors who took the lead from Harte's lethal left boot on 29 minutes.
However, Arsenal took just three minutes to equalise, with Ashley Cole's deflected cross-shot being met with a diving header by Wiltord. Viduka went close with two efforts, but the Australian then lost his strike partner Alan Smith two minutes after the restart with an ankle injury, who was replaced by David Batty rather than Robbie Keane. And Leeds, bolstered by Batty's presence in midfield, restored the advantage when Kewell went by Lauren on the left flank, passed inside to Viduka who brushed past Adams with alarming ease before placing his shot inside the post.
Thierry Henry, Ashley Cole and Robert Pires joined the Leeds quartet in the book in a second spate of yellow cards as Arsenal lost their edge, but it was Bowyer - booked earlier for a foul on Lauren - who was dismissed after his second yellow card for a trip on Cole. He was soon joined in the dressing-room by Mills as the defender fouled Cole, with whom he had a running battle all game, and then kicked the ball against his England team-mate to earn his second booking.
Despite the late introductions of Dennis Bergkamp, Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Francis Jeffers, Arsenal could not take advantage of their numerical superiority as Jonathan Woodgate and Gary Kelly manned the barricades.
Elsewhere, Ipswich Town beat Derby County 3-1 with two goals from Nigerian Finidi George and one from Richard Naylor, despite a late consolation from Fabrizio Ravanelli. And Premiership newboys Bolton Wanderers continued their fine start to the campaign with a 1-0 victory over pointless Middlesbrough at the Reebok Stadium. Michael Ricketts' 39th minute strike from the edge of the area proved the difference between the sides to keep Bolton top.
Filed by Shane Murray
