The Gunners demolished Leeds as Jurrien Timber popped up with two goals but Mikel Arteta will be ruing the injuries to two of his difference-makers.
Arsenal took Leeds apart as they secured an emphatic 5-0 win that sent them to the top of the Premier League table but a double injury blow, that saw both Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka withdrawn, will have Mikel Arteta worried with Liverpool on the horizon.
After wasting a couple of early chances, with Viktor Gyokeres guilty of a particularly glaring miss, the Gunners were given a scare as Pascal Struijk saw a powerful header from a corner palmed over the bar by an alert David Raya. With the hosts struggling to create many clearcut opportunities as Leeds dug in, it was a trusty set-piece that finally did the trick as Declan Rice launched into the box for Timber to divert into the net. Having broke the deadlock, Arsenal would be two up before the break – Saka, who was having an uncharacteristically quiet half, bursting into the box in stoppage time and smashing an effort past Lucas Perri.
The Gunners’ third goal brought a smile to Eberechi Eze’s face, with the £60 million signing who was presented to the crowd before kick-off gleefully applauding as Gyokeres got off the mark. The Swede, who was harshly criticised after an ineffective debut at Old Trafford, received a ball in the channel and cut inside before sliding past Perri and wheeling away to perform his trademark mask celebration.
The buzz created by the goal quickly turned to anxiety around the Emirates, however, as an apparent hamstring injury saw Saka leave the pitch after 53 minutes, with Odegaard having already gone off due to a shoulder issue. Despite those set-backs, the dominant hosts would still kick on and add to their goal tally as Timber poked home a scrappy fourth and then Max Dowman, making his Arsenal debut off the bench at just 15 years old, won a penalty that was smashed into the net by Gyokeres for his second of the night.
Goalkeeper & Defence
David Raya (7/10):
Made a wonderful instinctive save to deny Struijk from close range. Had little else to do but that stop – with the score level at the time – was vital.
Jurrien Timber (9/10):
Took his headed goal superbly well to open the scoring and played Saka in for the second. Prodded home his side’s fourth goal as well to cap an impressive evening’s work.
William Saliba (7/10):
One of the most comfortable games he’s ever had for Arsenal as the Leeds frontline didn’t make him break sweat.
Gabriel Magalhaes (7/10):
One of the most comfortable games he’s ever had for Arsenal as the Leeds frontline didn’t make him break sweat.
Gabriel Magalhaes (7/10):
His high pressing helped spark attacks and was his usual solid self at the back.
Riccardo Calafiori (7/10):
Used his strength and aerial presence to gobble up Dan James and his delightful ball into the channel set Gyokeres on his way for the Swede’s first Arsenal goal.
Midfield
Martin Zubimendi (7/10):
Created the massive chance for Gyokeres early on as he raced forward and forced a mistake. Kept things ticking over nicely in the middle of the park.
Declan Rice (8/10):
Swung over a couple of his trademark inviting corners to create two of Arsenal’s goals and was generally on it today, with his tenacious pressing setting the tone.
Martin Odegaard (6/10):
Withdrawn after 38 minutes as he succumbed to the shoulder injury he suffered early on in the first half.
Attack
Bukayo Saka (7/10):
Was having a really ineffective first half until he popped up in the box in stoppage time and arrowed past Perri for 2-0. Will be praying the injury that saw him taken off soon after half-time isn’t as serious as it looked, with Liverpool up next.
Viktor Gyokeres (8/10):
Feel the relief! Cut inside and slotted home for his first goal in an Arsenal shirt which helped make up for a horrible rushed effort in the first half that flew wide. Added a second in stoppage time with a powerful penalty.
Noni Madueke (5/10):
Some neat footwork but his end product was lacking. Taken off just after the hour mark.
Subs & Manager
Ethan Nwaneri (6/10):
On for Odegaard in the first half and looked a threat in the second 45, albeit he didn’t really get a chance to unleash at goal.
Leandro Trossard (6/10):
Replaced Saka in the 53rd minute with Leeds already well-beaten.
Max Dowman (7/10):
A massive moment for the 15-year-old as he made his professional debut and won the penalty for the fifth goal.
Myles Lewis-Skelly (6/10):
A steady performance after he came on for Calafiori.
Cristhian Mosquera (6/10):
On for Timber for his Arsenal debut with the game already won.
Mikel Arteta (8/10):
Will obviously be concerned about the injuries to Odegaard and Saka but also delighted with the ruthlessness his side showed to rip their opponents to shreds. A special mention for his decision to bring on 15-year-old Dowman, too, who wowed the crowd with his cameo at the end.
