Viduka's winner piles on the agony for Gunners

Arsenal 2 Leeds United 3

Having earned the billing of champions at Old Trafford last May, Arsenal were yesterday reduced to the Premiership ranks at their Highbury home. Their brief reign has proved to be an interregnum rather than the fundamental shift in the balance of power Arsène Wenger had proclaimed.

Physically depleted by injuries and suspension, and mentally by the remorseless Spring march of Manchester United, Arsenal were finally undone by Leeds rediscovering their long-dormant talent.

It was a day of ill luck for Arsenal. Not only did they suffer the rare experience of running into Leeds on a day when both Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka were in the mood, but their misfortune was compounded when the ball thrice rebounded from the woodwork without score then Viduka stole the late winner from an offside position.

But fate has a habit of evening itself out over a season and championships are not won with defences that shiver whenever the opposition attack, as Arsenal's did when Kewell moved forward. The Australian settled Leeds' nerves with a sublime goal after five minutes. He then won the free-kick soon after the break which Ashley Cole deflected into his own net. By the time he left the pitch Arsenal's defence was thoroughly shredded and Viduka's isolation, before securing Leeds' Premiership status, was not entirely due to his being marginally offside.

Leeds should now keep the administrators at bay but their supporters will expect better next season. Though they sang "we're staying up" lustily enough this was not something they imagined would be cause for celebration back in August. When the hangovers subside they will ponder the vim with which Leeds attacked, and the stoutness with which they defended, and realise how they have been cheated this season.

Who will manage them remains in doubt. Peter Reid, the caretaker manager, said he will sit down with the board and discuss his position when the season is over. Having been sacked after his last visit here, with Sunderland in October, he especially enjoyed this victory. "Fergie should send me a bottle of red," he said afterwards in reference to Sir Alex Ferguson.

For Arsenal the immediate task is to lift themselves for the FA Cup final in 12 days time. A campaign that promised so much is in danger of crumbling into introspection but Arsenal's football has enriched the season and it is not just the likes of Leeds and Tottenham who would envy their season.

Even before kick-off there was a sense that the title had slipped away and walking into Highbury the neutral felt like an intruder at a wake. It was a theatre of despair and desperation. Arsenal's fans were mourning the probable loss of the championship they should have been celebrating; Leeds' were wondering what other horrors lay in wait in this gruesome season.

The line-ups only compounded the supporters' fears. Arsenal had to field Oleg Luzhny at centre-half and Kolo Toure at right-back. Leeds had Dominic Matteo in central midfield where he had disappeared at The Dell a fortnight ago.

This time Matteo was immense, constantly breaking up Arsenal's attacks and freeing Viduka for the winner. Behind him Lucas Radebe was equally defiant.

After five minutes came the next indication this was not to be Arsenal's afternoon. Jason Wilcox hoisted over Martin Keown and Kewell, without breaking stride, thrashed it past David Seaman from the corner of the area.

Arsenal seemed listless compared to Leeds' harrying and chasing but the heat took its toll on the men in blue and after 30 minutes they were slow to close down Ray Parlour as he advanced. Robinson brilliantly turned his shot onto the bar but Thierry Henry followed up to level.

Now, it seemed, Arsenal would assert themselves but Michael Duberry cleared another Parlour shot off the line and Henry struck the post. Half-time disrupted their momentum. Soon after Cole gave away a foul then, trying to glance away Ian Harte's free-kick rather than meet it head on, diverted it inside the post.

Arsenal's character has been questioned but they rallied again. Henry twice went close, Eirik Bakke chipped onto the roof of his own net and Sylvain Wiltord missed a sitter. Finally Henry and Robert Pires set up Dennis Bergkamp for a second equaliser.

The game continued to grip with Kewell bringing a good save from Seaman at one end and Henry striking another post at the other within 60 seconds. Seeking victory Wenger sent on a series of substitutes. The introduction of Jermaine Pennant for Wiltord seemed three months overdue but he ran into the same blind alleys. A minute after Bergkamp narrowly failed to turn in Cole's cross he lost the ball in midfield, Matteo released Viduka and Manchester and Leeds were united in joy.

Goals: Kewell (5) 0-1; Henry (30) 1-1; Harte (48) 1-2; Bergkamp (62) 2-2; Viduka (87) 2-3.

Arsenal (4-4-2): Seaman 5; Toure 4 (Kanu, 70 5), Luzhny 5, Keown 4, Cole 5; Wiltord 3 (Pennant, 75 3), Parlour 8, Gilberto 6, Pires 5 (Van Bronckhorst, 79); Bergkamp 6, Henry 7. Substitutes not used: Taylor (gk), Stephanovs.

Leeds United (4-4-2): Robinson 7; Mills 6, Radebe 8, Duberry 7, Harte 6; Kelly 6, Matteo 8, Bakke 5, Wilcox 5; Viduka 8, Kewell 9 (Johnson, 79). Substitutes not used: Martyn (gk), Bravo, Barmby, Milner.

Booked: Arsenal: Bergkamp, Keown. Leeds United: Viduka.

Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood) 5

Man of the match: Kewell.

Attendance: 38,127.