Arsenal conduct a keep-ball masterclass

Leeds United 1 Arsenal 4

It was three decades ago here that Don Revie's team taunted Southampton with a pass-and-keep routine that lasted several minutes. It was so utterly cruel that the audacity of Bremner and company remains seared in the memory.

Yesterday was the day a visiting team gave that side's present-day counterparts a taste of something not dissimilar. After 20 minutes, by which time the Gunners had eased into a two-goal lead with beautifully crafted goals scored by Kanu and Kolo Touré, Terry Venables' men must have felt like calling the advice line of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Forlorn Footballers.

It was a mesmerising exhibition from Arsenal as they proceeded to dispose of records with abandon. Here they were scoring in their 47th consecutive game, one better than Chesterfield achieved 72 years ago in the old Third Division North. It was also their 23rd away game since defeat – a sequence which can be traced back to the season before last. But more important is the confirmation that coach Arsène Wenger and his team have ventured to a new planet of attainment. This was football, Jim, but not as we know it.

When Wenger opined that his side could progress through the season undefeated, and win the treble, he was either placing himself as a foolish hostage to fortune, or becoming the game's bravest motivator. He defends that stance by declaring: "What's so shocking about wanting your team to win games? Am I supposed to say: 'Yes, they will lose them'? Today it was just outstanding and a pleasure to watch. A real team performance."

His team are infused with desire and supreme confidence. At times, there is economy of effort; but when called upon, the back line and their protectors, the splendid Brazilian Gilberto Silva and Patrick Vieira, hunt diligently, the entire ensemble co-ordinating as a disciplined pack. Going forward, no pass is implausible, no angle too acute. The finishing by Thierry Henry and his pals is sublime.

As Venables, candid in his admission that his team had been outplayed, observed wryly: "The only comfort I could drag out of it was that I watched PSV [Eindhoven] play them the other night and they got the same treatment."

He added: "At the moment Henry is sensational. He looks even better than last season, and Gilberto is a massive influence on them with his awareness and positional sense. He hardly seems to move at times, yet he just keeps filling in holes where you can't go. He and Vieira just sit there in front of the back line. That's why they are so strong defensively and on the counterattack."

Pascal Cygan is yet another of Wenger's astute purchases. Granted his opportunity because of Martin Keown's absence, the Frenchman did his work unobtrusively but with great effectiveness, although he was a touch fortunate to escape all punishment when he and Lee Bowyer tangled in the second half, and the newly capped England man was the recipient of the toe of Cygan's boot in the head. Wenger, true to form, missed that one, although in general he believes that on the discipline front his players "have grown up and matured".

Leeds' Alan Smith, seemingly spoiling for a confrontation, was cautioned after just five minutes and was somewhat fortunate that referee Alan Wiley was in benign mood, allowing him to see out the remaining 85. Dacourt followed him into the book, as did later Eirik Bakke and Bowyer. Arsenal's Vieira and Sol Campbell also saw yellow.

Venables confined Ian Harte – whom he described as "a bit low" after contributing to Blackburn's winner last week – to the bench and that meant he had to deploy Danny Mills on the left with Gary Kelly providing cover on the right. If cover is the right word. After only nine minutes, Ashley Cole won the ball from the defender and delivered it to Touré who cut into the area and set up Kanu, replacing the injured Dennis Bergkamp, to score. Too simple.

Appropriately, one of Leeds' main stands is sponsored by Lurpak. For a time, Arsenal were cutting through them like the proverbial knife. Paul Robinson denied Henry before a poor clearance from Mills in the 20th minute allowed Wiltord to cross and Touré to head home.

Kanu might have added another and then Gilberto's flashing header was cleared off the line by Kelly. Leeds barely got a sniff until four minutes before the break, when Seaman had to be alert to a blindside run from Kewell.

Stephen McPhail replaced Dacourt at the interval, but almost immediately Arsenal struck again as Kanu dispatched a clever ball through to Henry. The Frenchman rode Lucas Radebe's challenge before slipping the ball under Robinson.

Arsenal were coasting, but even without Bergkamp, Freddie Ljungberg and Robert Pires, they remained the dominant force. In one exquisite piece of flamboyance, Sylvain Wiltord engineered a back-heeled nutmeg of Harry Kewell.

Leeds weren't done, though. A Mark Viduka free-kick was just wide and Smith headed against the bar. Four minutes from time, Kewell secured the goal Leeds' improved second half merited after Seaman had twice saved from Bowyer. The Australian might have added another, but that would have been absurd.

Instead Arsenal re-established their superiority. Substitute Jermaine Pennant released a precise ball between Dominic Matteo and Mills and Kanu put away his second with aplomb. There was still time for another substitute, Oleg Luzhny, to be felled by Mills in the area. Penalty, said Mr Wiley. Offside, waved an assistant's flag. It was about the only time Leeds got lucky on a day they will want to forget.

Leeds United 1 Arsenal 4
Kewell 84, Kanu 9, 86, Toure 20, Henry 47

Half-time: 0-2 Attendance: 40,199