Arsenal: 4 talking points from 2-0 Carabao Cup win over Leeds

4. Arteta’s Team Press Once More in Full Flight

It feels that Arsenal and Arteta have learned their lesson after the Crystal Palace debacle. After the Gunners took an early lead, they let the foot off the gas and allowed Palace to control and dictate the game. In truth, Arsenal should have lost that game as Palace could feel hard done by to escaped without three points.

However, in the next two games, against Aston Villa and now Leeds, after scoring the first goal Arteta’s side haven’t taken their off the pedal. Every player hassled and harried the Leeds players, forcing turnovers and pinning them back inside their half.

Gabriel Martinelli played his part, giving debutant Cody Drameh a torrid night, which was demonstrated in the forward being tied for the most tackles in the game.

The pressure told as Arsenal’s two goals came within 15 minutes of each other as Nketiah pounced on a poor header to chip the goalkeeper, control the ball supremely well and then nearly fluff his lines entirely as his shot barely made it over the line. The game was essentially over with 20 minutes to go.

The Palace game was a stark reminder that once they go ahead, Arsenal has to go for the kill and get that all-important second goal. Twice in two games, the side has done that but their next Premier League opponent in Leicester will be a far tougher test than Villa and Leeds.

But on the whole, the approach after the break to up the tempo, push the centre-backs and full-backs higher and play in the opposition half was another indicator of the shift in mentality from the team. Arsenal are playing to their strengths, not accounting for their weaknesses. That’s positive football.