Physically, mentally and emotionally there was just nothing left in Leeds' tank as Arsenal compounded the draining effects of a tumultuous season at Elland Road.

It was a campaign which promised so much as David O'Leary's side at one stage led the Premiership for three months, while their UEFA Cup run was proving to be an exhilarating adventure.

But it is not just the wheels which have come off the United bandwagon as events off the field since mid-January have left the club with little drive or direction.

The impending trials of Jonathon Woodgate and Lee Bowyer has proven to be the catalyst to a dramatic about-turn in fortunes, which reached its tragic nadir in Istanbul 11 days ago with the murders of Leeds fans Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight.

For such a young team these events, coupled with the effort of trying to maintain their challenge on a trophy double, has just proved far too much for them to cope with.

Leeds, reduced to 10 men when Ian Harte was sent off in the 44th minute, suffered their sixth successive defeat - and their worst for three years.

Arsenal, in such stark contrast, made it seven straight wins to leapfrog above United into the third and last coveted Champions League place.

For United, that has been their goal during a season which is now in freefall and shows no sign of them hitting the bottom.

But somehow they will have to raise themselves one more time in a bid to salvage something from the demanding debris which now lies scattered around them for Thursday's UEFA Cup semi-final second leg with Galatasaray.

They say time heals all wounds and although a week and a half may have passed since the deaths of the two fans, the outpouring of grief was still overwhelming.

This was the first game to be played at Elland Road since such tragic events and the emotion both inside and outside the ground was palpable.

It is arguable, but almost certainly never have so many fans looked upon the Billy Bremner statue with such feeling in their hearts as they did before kick-off.

The wave of public sympathy has washed over the club in the intervening period and never was that more apparent than on this day, with bouquets of flowers 10 deep around the base of the memorial.

The blue railings which line one side of the ground were adorned with hundreds of shirts from clubs across Britain, most of which carried upon them messages of condolence.

Immediately prior to the start came "the touch of class" Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale had spoken about in reference to Arsenal.

As the teams lined up either side of the centre spot the mascots handed bouquets to the Arsenal stars, who in turn handed them on to the Leeds players.

The standing ovation which swept round the ground in response to such a gesture carried with it tremendous respect, but it was the minute's silence which underlined the depth of feeling.

The sombre mood was reflected in the bowed heads of almost the entire 40,000 crowd, and although there were no tears from Ridsdale - as there had been at Villa Park a week ago - the tension of the last few days was still etched on his face.

Once the Leeds players had then distributed the flowers to a number of fans lining the pitch - to later be placed among the other floral tributes outside the stadium - it was a relief once the game finally started.

But what followed was a footballing lesson for Leeds and a physical encounter as the niceties before kick off gave way to countless reckless challenges and off-the-ball incidents, ultimately resulting in the dismissal of Harte.

But for the first 15 minutes Leeds were always second best as Arsenal's experience and end-of-season energy held sway as the temperature on the pitch often threatened to reach boiling point.

Leeds should at least have ended their goal drought - which now stretches to 412 minutes - when Harry Kewell's sublime skill took him on a 50-yard run and clear of three challenges.

When finally faced with David Seaman, Kewell opted for the pull back for Alan Smith, who woefully spooned his shot over the bar from seven yards - and that was Leeds' best effort of an instantly forgettable match for themselves.

Arsenal then took command as they often scythed Leeds apart, with Nigel Martyn first palming a fierce Emmanuel Petit drive onto the post before the 21st-minute opener.

Dennis Bergkamp and Ray Parlour set up Thierry Henry for his 20th of the season and his sixth in successive matches as he drilled home a first-time toe poke from eight yards.

The Gunners should have had more as their flair and ingenuity saw Frederik Ljungberg, Bergkamp and Henry all go close before the second goal finally arrived in the 70th minute.

Petit's corner was met with a downward header by Martin Keown which hit Henry, but the centre-back pounced on the rebound to drive home his first goal for 15 months to seal the victory and complete the double over Leeds.

Kanu, a 67th-minute substitute for Bergkamp, tapped home the third in the 82nd minute after Martyn had denied Silvinho following the Brazilian's waltzing run through the home defence, with Marc Overmars adding the fourth in injury time.

Leeds had been reduced to 10 men prior to those goals as Harte had been shown the red card for violent conduct in the 44th minute for lashing out with his right foot at Bergkamp after the two had clashed.

Among the five bookings, Bowyer picked up his 14th of the season which means he will now face an FA disciplinary hearing in two weeks' time at which he will receive a fine and two- or three-match suspension.

While Arsenal go from strength to strength and with a place in the UEFA Cup within reach, for Leeds the season's end cannot now come soon enough - unless they stage an emotion-wracked comeback against Galatasaray on Thursday.

Teams

Leeds: Martyn, Kelly, Woodgate, Haaland, Harte, Bakke, Bowyer, McPhail, Kewell, Smith, Bridges (Wilcox 46).

Subs Not Used: Hopkin, Huckerby, Duberry, Robinson.

Sent Off: Harte (44).

Booked: Bowyer.

Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon, Adams, Keown, Silvinho, Parlour, Vieira, Petit (Winterburn 82), Ljungberg, Bergkamp (Kanu 67), Henry (Overmars 74).

Subs Not Used: Malz, Manninger.

Booked: Silvinho, Bergkamp, Vieira, Petit.

Goals: Henry 21, Keown 70, Kanu 82, Overmars 90.

Att: 39,307

Ref: S Dunn (Bristol).