Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink's diving header four minutes from time put a severe dent in Arsenal's title challenge.

Arsenal's 1-0 defeat at Elland Road last night put Manchester United firmly in the Premiership title race driving seat. Victory for Alex Ferguson's men at Blackburn tonight would put United three points clear at the top with one match to play - and with a superior goal difference.

And if United avoid defeat at Ewood Park, Rovers, managed by Ferguson's former assistant Brian Kidd, will plunge through the relegation trapdoor.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is hoping for a Blackburn victory tonight, but does not expect Kidd's strugglers to win.

Wenger said: "It's not over, but it's not in our hands at all. Even a point wouldn't have been too bad, but I wouldn't expect Man United to lose there because a point will be enough for them.

"You never know in football. You have to be optimistic, but you also have to be realistic.

"If I had to predict a result I would say United have a 70 per cent chance of getting something from it. I wouldn't bet my money on Blackburn.

"After that we have to rely on Tottenham and I don't think they will go to Manchester United and win - but if they fight like Leeds did, why not?"

Ryan Giggs is set to return for Manchester United tonight after nearly a month out through injury.

Nicky Butt replaces Roy Keane who injured his ankle at Middlesbrough, while former Rovers player Henning Berg is also out through injury.

Pride, not prejudice as Leeds triumph

by Martin Jarred Roll over and die? No chance.

Some Leeds United fans may have hoped that their team would chuck in the towel against Arsenal to prevent Manchester United winning the title - but the players are too full of pride and passion to allow that to happen.

In a match of high drama, Leeds beat the Gunners 1-0 in front of a feverish Elland Road crowd last night to hand the championship initiative to the old enemy from Old Trafford, who can virtually put both hands on the title with victory at Blackburn tonight.

A game of unremitting excitement was settled in the 86th minute when Harry Kewell's superb left wing cross behind the famed Arsenal back line found the head of Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink, diving in at the far post.

He has scored in every match he has played against Arsenal, but his header looks like having major repercussions elsewhere.

Leeds were able to resist fierce Arsenal pressure in the remaining time, which included six minutes added on by referee Gary Willard for a key injury to Arsenal left back Nigel Winterburn, who was carried off.

Minutes later Hasselbaink stooped to conquer, Winterburn's replacement Nelson Vivas failing in his far post marking duties.

It will be no consolation to know that Arsenal are the best team to have visited Leeds this season, but they have only themselves to blame for not getting something out of a match whose high-tempo was maintained throughout.

Brilliant goalkeeping by Nigel Martyn, Arsenalesque defending by Lucas Radebe and Jon Woodgate, and wayward finishing left Arsenal empty handed.

But it was not all one-way traffic as Leeds, playing out of their skins for manager David O'Leary, the former Arsenal defensive legend, ensured that the champions were fully stretched.

Indeed, some of Arsene Wenger's men were clearly rattled by the intensity of the Leeds challenge in a match of 10 bookings, nearly all deserved.

Apart from a 10-minute spell when Arsenal hit top gear, Leeds were the more progressive side in the first half and should have gone in ahead when Martin Keown's lunge at Alan Smith brought Leeds a penalty. Ian Harte slapped it against the bar and although Hasselbaink volleyed the rebound goalwards, Seaman clutched the ball on his line.

The introduction of Nwankwo Kanu just after the hour seemed to tip the game in Arsenal's favour.

Both disappointing Arsenal wide players, Marc Overmars and Ray Parlour, were withdrawn and Kanu and Kaba Diawara started to pull Leeds all over the place.

Woodgate headed a Diawara header off the line, the French sub then clipped the bar with a header, while both Viera and Bergkamp were denied by courageous blocks.

It was left to Hasselbaink to keep a cool head for his 20th goal of the season to condemn Arsenal to their first defeat since they lost 3-2 at Aston Villa on December 13.

Tragic for Arsenal, but it confirmed that Leeds could well be a power to reckon with in the Millennium.

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