Arsene Wenger lamented ‘shame for the league’ as Olivier Dacourt shone for Leeds United in 2000

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Olivier Dacourt was the hero for Leeds United in 2000 as he scored the only goal in an ill-tempered clash at Elland Road in November 2000.

Leeds United and Arsenal shared several famous Premier League battles in the late 1990s and early 2000s as the Whites attempted to break the hegemony at the top of the table.

The Whites got the better of their opponents on several occasions, as an Ian Harte free-kick gave Leeds a famous win at Highbury despite going down to nine men.

David O’Leary’s Leeds side met Arsenal on 25 November 2000, with both sides attempting to mount a challenge for the title.

On the night that Leeds unveiled record signing Rio Ferdinand to the Elland Road crowd, Olivier Dacourt claimed the three points in a feisty affair.

Olivier Dacourt shines in Leeds United win over Arsenal

Leeds had ground to make up in the Premier League at the start of the 2000/01 season, as their Champions League heroics threatened to overshadow their hopes of challenging at the top of the table.

However, they proved their Champions League credentials with a battling display against Arsenal, in a game which threatened to boil over at several points.

Arsenal were fortunate to end the game with all 11 players on the pitch, as the referee let several strong challenges go.

Martin Keown clattered Lee Bowyer, having been frustrated by Alan Smith’s persistent harrying, and was fortunate to only receive a yellow. Lauren was also lucky not to be sent off after a late tackle on Harte, having already been booked.

Arsenal defender Keown was involved in the tackle that gave Dacourt his moment to shine, as he and Ray Parlour sandwiched the Frenchman 20 yards from goal.

Harte would usually have been trusted with the dead ball, but Dacourt took the shot instead, driving the ball into the Arsenal wall. It clipped the head of Lauren and flew perfectly into the top corner, past the despairing dive of Alex Manninger.

The defeat meant Arsenal were already cut adrift of Manchester United, which Wenger lamented at full time, via the Irish Times: “I’m not conceding anything yet, but you have to be realistic,” Wenger said. “It’s just a shame for the league.”

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Leeds United unveil British record signing Rio Ferdinand

In some ways, the action on the pitch was almost a sideshow to the pre-match entertainment, as Leeds United Chairman Peter Ridsdale showed off his new signing during the game.

Leeds’ defensive struggles were a major reason for their Premier League struggles at the beginning of the 2000/01 season.

Ferdinand was the answer to this, as the rising England star joined Leeds for £18 million, which was a British record fee at the time.

It was also a world record fee for a defender at the time, surpassing the £13 million that Roma paid to sign Walter Samuel. As a result, Elland Road celebrated a double coup in the November rain, as the fans got a first look at Ferdinand and celebrated a victory over Arsenal.