Seven-goal stuffings and Henry heroics: Five of the best clashes between Arsenal and Leeds United

Thierry Henry

Seven-goal stuffings and Henry heroics: Five of the best clashes between Arsenal and Leeds United

By Peter White

Following defeats against Wolves and Aston Villa, Arsenal return to Premier League action against Leeds United on Sunday afternoon, aiming to get back on track in the hunt for European qualification.

A seven-game unbeaten run from Boxing Day had suggested the Gunners had finally found their rhythm under Mikel Arteta’s tutelage, but they now find themselves eight points off the top six and in desperate need of a result against the Whites.

Leeds may be back in the top flight for the first time since their relegation back in 2004, but Marcelo Bielsa’s charges have proved their worth so far this season, sitting one place and one point above the north Londoners ahead of the teams’ second meeting of the season.

While they ran defending champions Liverpool close on the opening day and have taken points off current league leaders Manchester City, Leeds also showcased their quality in a 0-0 clash against Arsenal in November.

Though the game was ultimately goalless Arsenal were somewhat fortunate not to concede, with Arteta’s men facing 25 shots at Elland Road - four more than they have in any other Premier League game this season.

The teams’ Emirates showdown promises plenty of thrills and spills with both sides hoping to bear down on the European places, and as anticipation builds we’ve been reflecting on some of the best meetings between two of English football’s most famous clubs.

The Yorkshiremen may have spent 16 years in the wilderness until their promotion from the Championship last season, but the three-time domestic champions have proved formidable opponents on several occasions.

September 4 1979 - Arsenal 7-0 Leeds, League Cup second round, second leg

We go back to the 1970s for our first classic encounter, which promised an evenly contested battle after the sides had drawn the first leg 1-1 at Elland Road, and then matched that scoreline in a league clash three days later.

But the Gunners found their groove from the off back at Highbury, with Alan Sunderland notching a hat-trick that inspired his team to their best-ever League Cup win, while succumbing Leeds to their heaviest defeat in the competition.

                                                 Alan Sunderland

Liam Brady scored two penalties and Sammy Nelson and Frank Stapleton also got on the scoresheet for Arsenal, who had lifted the FA Cup for the fifth time the previous season.

After a period among Europe’s elite in the 60s and 70s this result somewhat marked the start of Leeds’ decline, ahead of their relegation to the second tier in 1982.

February 16 1991 - Leeds 1-2 Arsenal, FA Cup fourth round replay

It’s hard to imagine a time when an FA Cup fixture would be allowed four games to determine a result, but that was indeed the case when Arsenal and Leeds were drawn against each other in the 1990/91 season.

With no penalties to decide the winner, the first game between the teams ended 0-0 at Highbury, before Lee Chapman and Anders Limpar goals at Elland Road forced a second replay.

                                                  Paul Merson

Another goalless stalemate back in the capital brought about a fourth clash, in which goals from Paul Merson and Lee Dixon finally saw Arsenal progress into the fifth round.

George Graham’s men were eventually stopped by bitter north London rivals Spurs in the semi-finals but they did reign supreme in the league, and their memorable tie against Leeds convinced the FA to introduce penalty shoot-outs after first replays the following season.

February 3 1993 - Leeds 2-3 Arsenal, FA Cup fourth round replay

Two years later there was more FA Cup drama in a clash between the teams, with defending league champions Leeds enjoying a 2-0 advantage at Highbury before being denied by Ray Parlour and Merson strikes.

The Gunners took the lead against the run of play in the replay through an Alan Smith volley, but Carl Shutt quickly equalised and then Gary McAllister put the hosts in front with a 30-yard free-kick.

                                                Ray Parlour

Ian Wright struck just before the final whistle to force extra time, and he went on to claim the winner in the 117th minute to snatch victory from Leeds’ grasp and prevent the game being decided on penalties.

While they could only manage a tenth-place finish in the league that year Arsenal went on to dominate the domestic cup competitions, lifting both the FA Cup and League Cup trophies in 1992/93.

April 16 2004 - Arsenal 5-0 Leeds, Premier League

Arsenal would go on to lift the Premier League title unbeaten at the end of the 2003/04 season, and struggling Leeds arrived at Highbury as the last team to have beaten them in the competition the previous May.

But there was no danger of history repeating itself a year later, and Robert Pires set the tone for a dominant Arsenal showing with a silky curling finish after just six minutes.

                                               Thierry Henry

Then it was time for the prolific Thierry Henry to take centre stage, with the Frenchman notching two goals either side of half-time for his first four-goal haul for the club that moved them a step closer to a second title in three seasons.

While Arsene Wenger’s charges would go on to claim invincible status, Leeds fell to relegation at the conclusion of the campaign, spelling the start of a 16-year absence from the top tier.

January 9 2012 - Arsenal 1-0 Leeds, FA Cup third round

Arsenal have locked horns with Leeds three times in the FA Cup since their drop into the Championship in 2004, with the teams’ 2012 clash at the Emirates arguably the pick of the bunch.

Simon Grayson’s visitors had held the Gunners at the same stage of the competition a year earlier and looked set to battle their way to another replay, until the returning Henry made his long-awaited return in Arsenal colours as a late substitute.

                                            Thierry Henry

Having signed a two-month loan from New York Red Bulls, Henry’s first appearance for Arsenal since 2007 ended in fairy-tale fashion, with a late winner that sparked an outpour of emotion from players and fans alike.

Henry’s 227th Arsenal goal sealed progression, but Wenger’s men were ultimately stopped by Sunderland in the fifth round.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

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