It's no over exaggeration to claim that Sunday's televised game against Arsenal at Elland Road could either make or break the rest of our season. Following the events of the last fortnight, it's imperative that we get some kind of result: ideally, a victory but even a draw would keep maintain a buffer between the two sides - albeit a slender one.

A win would keep us just a point behind Liverpool, assuming they get three points at Selhurst Park. It would also give us a much needed boost in confidence prior to Thursday's epic game against Galatasaray. A defeat would leave us in fourth place and facing an almighty scrap with the Gunners and Chelsea for the third Champions League place.

Of course, the form of the two sides couldn't be more different. Whilst we have lost our last five games in all competitions, Arsenal have won their last six.

Team news, though, is promising - with O'Leary able to pick from almost a full strength squad: the only absentees being long term injuries to Batts, Hiden and Molenaar. Arsenal will be without defenders Oleg Luzhny and Gilles Grimandi, who are both suspended. However, Tony Adams is expected to return.

NEEDS REWORDING This was supposed to be the day Leeds bounced back to winning ways again, but it ended in complete humiliation against an Arsenal side who showed what it takes to sustain a successful campaign at home and in Europe.

It was a clear case of men against boys, as after going down to ten men with the controversial sending off of Ian Harte late in the first half, they were torn apart by the ruthless Gunners, who now leapfrog the Whites in the Premiership table.

The massive question now is how can David O'Leary pick his side up from the horror of this defeat and try to rescue something from a season which at the moment is lying in tatters.

The game against Arsenal was the first match at Elland Road since the murder of United fans Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight in Istanbul ten days ago.

A sell out crowd observed a minute's silence before hand as the Arsenal players handed a bouquet of flowers to each Leeds players, which were then distributed to members of the crowd to lay outside Elland Road.

On the pitch, the blow for Leeds before kick off was that skipper Lucas Radebe was ruled out with a reported knee injury, so Alfie Haaland was drafted into the centre of defence, alongside Jonathon Woodgate. Young striker Alan Smith was recalled to partner Michael Bridges in attack, with Harry Kewell asked to play a supporting role just behind the front two.

For Arsenal Tony Adams returned, in what otherwise was the Gunners' strongest line-up.

Despite their poor run of late, Leeds started well, realising that they had to quickly rediscover the winning habit if they are to make sure of a top three finish and against a side who are threatening to overhaul them in the table.

Harry Kewell had a shot blocked early on, then put in a good deep cross which Keown was forced to head behind. Smith too saw a goalbound effort his an Arsenal defender, before on 10 minutes Leeds nearly went ahead.

Silvinho was booked for a late challenge on Lee Bowyer and from the free-kick United won a corner. McPhail's deep deliver was inch perfect for Eirik Bakke at the far post, but his header flew into the side netting.

Then United squandered an even better opportunity on the quarter of an hour mark.

A dazzling run by Kewell past four Arsenal defenders took him all the way into the Gunners penalty area, with only David Seaman standing in his way. After squaring up to shoot, the Aussie ace, laid the ball back to Alan Smith, who unbelievably spooned the ball over the bar from just 10 yards out, as the Arsenal rearguard made desperate attempts to get back.

But then just two minutes later Arsenal could have taken the lead. Dennis Bergkamp was the foil out left and his deep cross was rescued by Henry, who found Petit on the edge of the area. Fortunately for Leeds the Frenchman's powerful drive hit Martyn's right hand upright and was hacked clear by stand in skipper Gary Kelly.

That should have served as a warning, but didn't. On 22 minutes Ray Parlour found space on the right and delivered a low cross which was turned in first time by Henry, beating Martyn at his near post.

After Denis Bergkamp became the second Arsenal player to go into referee Steve Dunn's notebook, the Gunners wasted two glorious chances to go further ahead.

First Freddie Ljungberg shot straight at Nigel Martyn from 12 yards out after Parlour was again the provider, then Bergkamp headed wide from a cross by Lee Dixon, as the United defence was carved open.

With Kewell now well shackled by Dixon and the Arsenal midfield dictating proceedings, Leeds were struggling to find the opportunities they worked so well inside the first quarter.

Henry shot wide of a post, before further disaster hit Leeds two minutes before half-time.

United defender Ian Harte lashed out with his legs after Denis Bergkamp has caught him late in a challenge and with play going on 30 yards away, the referee assistant's flag halted play. After consultation, referee Steve Dunn sent the Republic of Ireland defender off, much to the fury of the home crowd.

They were further incensed moments later when Lee Dixon caught Harry Kewell in the face with a raised fist but escaped unpunished.

A man down, United boss David O'Leary brought on Jason Wilcox for Michael Bridges at the interval. But the game which had threatened to boil over in the first half, exploded again just a minute after the re-start when Petit was booked for a bad challenge on McPhail.

After Ray Parlour had wasted a good opportunity for Arsenal, United's ten men began to rattle the Gunners. Eirik Bakke was brought down right on the edge of the area, but Wilcox hit the free kick straight at the Arsenal wall.

That said, the Gunners should have gone two up when a quick break by Bergkamp caught Leeds short at the back, but as his ball to Henry was just behind the Frenchman, the striker dallied too long and hit his shot straight at Martyn who saved with his legs.

Bergkamp had a similar chance moments later but was crowded out by the Leeds defence, before at the other end, quick thinking by Alan Smith presented Bakke with a clear sight of goal, only for the Norwegian to curl his shot wide of Seaman's left hand upright.

Nigerian striker Kanu was sent on for Bergkamp, but it was an Arsenal defender who prised open the Leeds defence again with 20 minutes left. Wilcox gave away a corner as the ball skimmed off his head and Petit's inswinger was met by Keown, whose initial header was blocked by Nigel Martyn, but the England star picked himself up to crash the rebound high into the net from 12 yards.

Henry's last taste of the action came when he failed to capitalise on a one on one against Martyn and was then withdrawn for Marc Overmars.

With seven minutes left the Gunners rubbed salt in United's wounds when a run by Silvinho ended with the Brazilian toe poking the ball goalwards, which Martyn could only parry straight to the unmarked Kanu who completed the simple task of side-footing into the empty net.

Freddie Ljungberg then fired over from eight yards, as again the depleted Leeds defence was opened up, but by then it didn't take long to complete the misery when Overmars shot home in injury time.

Somehow United must try to raise themselves for the small matter of the visit of Galatasaray on Thursday night.