Four-goal Henry steers rampant Arsenal past Leeds

Arsenal 5 Leeds 0

Arsenal can prepare to uncork the championship champagne after awesome Thierry Henry became the first Gunners player in 13 years to hit four goals in a game as Leeds were humiliated at Highbury tonight.

Arsene Wenger’s men demolished relegation-threatened Leeds to pile up a 10-point cushion at the Barclaycard Premiership summit and stretch their record-breaking unbeaten league start to 33 games.

But tonight was all about the magic of the Henry, the supremely-gifted Frenchman whose four-goal haul took him past John Radford as the third-highest scorer in the club’s history with 150 goals.

Henry, 27, is now in sight of all-time club leading scorer Cliff Bastin’s 178-goal tally after becoming the first player since Ian Wright against Everton in December 1991 to score four times in a match.

Henry, who also scored a hat-trick against Liverpool in Arsenal’s last home game, now has 37 goals to his name in this sensational season.

Robert Pires got tonight’s rout underway after six minutes, sweeping home after a punchy move.

It was the Thierry Henry show thereafter as he burst clear to slide in his first after 27 minutes.

Number two came six minutes later with a cheeky penalty after Lucas Radebe handled in the box – and Henry completed his hat-trick with a cool finish five minutes after the break.

But the Frenchman topped the lot after 67 minutes as he raced goalwards, outpaced four defenders and touched home as he stumbled.

So Arsenal may have stumbled out of the FA Cup and Champions League but, in the Premiership, they are simply untouchable and could even clinch the title at Tottenham next Sunday if Chelsea and Manchester United slip up.

As for Leeds, the last side to beat the Gunners at the back end of last season, they are in deep, deep relegation trouble and could be five points from safety by 5pm tomorrow.

Arsenal kicked off without injured duo Freddie Ljungberg (hand) and Ashley Cole (ankle) tonight, while Leeds included on-loan Gunners midfielder Jermaine Pennant.

Wenger’s men threatened early on when Gael Clichy robbed Gary Kelly and Pires crossed towards Sylvain Wiltord.

That served as a warning to Leeds – and one which was not heeded.

The Gunners took the lead after just six minutes with a goal which summed up all that is right about the title favourites – and all that is wrong with the relegation-battlers.

Wiltord, back in from the cold since Ljungberg’s injury, played the ball up to Dennis Bergkamp.

The Dutchman took a touch – allowing Pires to race past the statuesque Leeds backline – and slipped the simplest straight pass through for the French winger to beat Paul Robinson with a sweet first-time shot from the edge of the box.

United rallied briefly as Mark Viduka shot at Jens Lehmann and Stephen Caldwell headed into the dangerzone.

But the Elland Road side were generally short on numbers in attack and the respite only ever looked like being temporary – and so it proved as the Gunners raced into a 3-0 lead.

First, after 27 minutes, Gilberto stroked a ball down the inside-left channel towards Henry.

The striker was played onside by Michael Duberry and raced clear to tuck inside the near post for number two.

Duberry was the villain again six minutes later, handling in the penalty area after Bergkamp played a neat one-two with Wiltord.

Henry took the spot-kick and audaciously dinked the ball down the middle of the goal as Robinson threw himself to his right.

The second half was a similar tale of home domination and Henry put Arsenal 4-0 up with his third of the night after 50 minutes.

Gilberto was again the provider – prodding a pass through a dozy United defence – and Henry strode goalwards to complete his hat-trick by sliding the ball under Robinson.

Wiltord could have made it five but fired a yard wide after a masterful Pires pass.

Arsenal were toying with their helpless opponents and Henry showed the gulf in class between the teams with a brilliant fourth goal of the night to put the Londoners 5-0 up after 67 minutes.

Pires tapped the ball to his fellow Frenchman 35 yards from goal and Henry simply hit the accelerator, bursting past four defenders and poking home.