Leeds 0-4 Arsenal: That’s more like it

Match report – Participant scores – Arteta response – Video

Arsenal obtained again to profitable methods within the Premier League yesterday with a 4-0 thumping of Leeds United at Elland Highway.

The preliminary crew choice wasn’t markedly totally different from what you may need predicted, though Kai Havertz in for Martin Odegaard was an attention-grabbing change, and the very fact we misplaced Bukayo Saka within the warm-up required an additional tweak with Noni Madueke changing him on the proper wing.

I believed the opening levels have been pretty even, Leeds have been effectively up for it at residence as you’d think about, however neither aspect normal any clear alternatives. They’d one pop from distance which went over, and we produced an opportunity for Martin Zubimendi however he didn’t make good contact from exterior the field.

After about 20 minutes although, we began to exert some strain, we had a sequence of corners, and after a kind of we took the lead. Leeds cleared, Madueke produced some nifty footwork and a great cross again in, and with the defence disorganised after the set-piece, Zubimendi was there to flick residence an excellent header to make it 1-0. You possibly can see by the best way he celebrated he was out to exorcise the ghosts of that mistake final weekend.

In that interval from the twentieth minute to the twenty seventh minute aim we had about 75% possession, and that roughly continued till the time the ball hit the again of the online a second time. It should go down as a Karl Darlow personal aim, after the Leeds keeper obtained embroiled along with his personal man and punched the ball into his personal internet, however I’m sure Madueke’s nook was heading in the right direction, so at the least morally it’s his aim. Perhaps the heading in the right direction stuff solely applies to photographs, however I nonetheless suppose he’s a bit onerous finished by to not be awarded what would have been his first Premier League aim for Arsenal. I guess the Leeds keeper agrees too.

I believed Calvert-Lewin was fortunate to flee a reserving for a late, sore wanting foul along with his studs on Gabriel, and he’d clearly turn into pissed off, getting no change out of William Saliba of their duels. The referee then booked one other Leeds participant for a nothing problem a few minutes later, maybe VAR had had a phrase about what he’d missed within the earlier incident.

Within the second interval, we had a fantastic likelihood throughout a good spell of Leeds possession to go additional forward. Leandro Trossard performed a superb first time ball, it despatched Viktor Gyokeres in behind, however not for the primary time this season he took too lengthy to get his shot away, permitting the defender to get again and make a block. Within the Premier League, you don’t get that further second or half a second to shoot the best way you do in different leagues, and it’s obtained to be one thing he works on going ahead.

Mikel Arteta made a few modifications, with Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard changing Madueke and Havertz, the pair have been concerned within the third aim. The captain performed a pleasant ball down the road for the Brazilian, and when he obtained a cross in along with his left foot, Gyokeres obtained throughout his defender very well to stab residence from shut vary. I feel he was clearly being fouled too, however fortunately we didn’t must endure a VAR second as a result of he caught it behind the online. That’s the form of motion from the striker we possibly weren’t seeing sufficient of earlier within the season, so honest play, and hopefully – as per the earlier likelihood he missed – that enchancment can proceed in different points of his play.

Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Jesus got here on for Piero Hincapie and Gyokeres, and the Brazilian examined the keeper with a strong shut vary header from a Jurrien Timber cross. With the sport heading for its inevitable conclusion although, we added some actual gloss to the scoreline with a superb aim to make it 4-0. Calafiori introduced it ahead, he then discovered Odegaard who fed Jesus within the field. The best way he dragged it again, then rolled it ahead to confuse the defender was very good, and he made the a lot of the house he had created for himself with a fantastic end into the underside nook.

Afterwards, Mikel Arteta mentioned:

Very, very comfortable clearly. A really spectacular efficiency, a really spectacular end result and within the context that we’ve finished it. When you’ve got the issue of the sport and the opponent that we’re dealing with, with their current type and the model of play that they’ve in the meanwhile and the vitality that the stadium brings, then the truth that after three outcomes that didn’t go our method within the league, we actually wished to point out how a lot we wished it, and I feel we’ve definitely finished that right this moment.

I feel this was principally simply what the physician ordered. We would have liked this after a run of detached ends in the league, and you’ll’t argue with the response from the crew after final weekend’s disappointment and frustration. 4 objectives, a clear sheet, three factors, extending the lead on the high of the desk, the supervisor displaying some tactical flexibility with an attention-grabbing set-up that noticed Havertz play nearer to Gyokeres than function as a like for like Odegaard alternative. I don’t suppose he was sensible or something, the truth is he accomplished simply 5 of 9 passes within the hour he performed, however that slight change within the crew dynamic was helpful.

Madueke had his simplest Premier League recreation for us too. He was a bit hit or miss, however the hits contributed to our two aim lead at half-time. We additionally obtained objectives for every of our centre-forwards, I believed Odegaard seemed far more just like the participant we wish to see when he got here on, concerned within the two second half objectives and enjoying with level to show maybe, Zubimendi confirmed his aim prowess once more, and because the recreation went on, the extra Declan Rice’s affect grew with a commanding midfield show that Leeds discovered onerous to dwell with.

There was a lot dialogue, debate and criticism over current performances, so credit score the place it’s due. Leeds had misplaced simply one in all their final ten video games, and plenty of have been viewing this pre-game as a possible banana pores and skin for an Arsenal aspect who had, by the excessive requirements they’ve set lately, been a bit under par. So, to go there and win that effectively, and deservedly so too, was exactly the best way we wanted to reply.

The slight negatives are the damage to Saka, which Arteta described afterwards as a ‘niggle’, so hopefully nothing severe, and studies of an damage to Mikel Merino that we’ll have to attend and see on. However as a option to get again to profitable methods within the league, and forward of Tuesday’s semi-final, you couldn’t actually ask for extra.

Now, we wait and see what right this moment brings within the different video games. I don’t maintain out any hope that Man Metropolis will drop factors, so count on that hole to be reduce to 4, however we did our job and did it effectively, and that’s as a lot as we will management. Proper, I’ll go away it there for this morning, take pleasure in your Sunday and I’ll be again with extra right here tomorrow and an Arsecast Additional.

Have a great one people.