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

Arsenal has advanced through to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals after a 2-0 win over Leeds United, in what turned out to be a comfortable evening for Mikel Arteta’s side.

Second-half goals from Calum Chambers (in Nicklas Bendtner clothing) and Eddie Nketiah sealed the win, extending the club’s unbeaten streak in all matches to eight games.

Several fringe players including Cedric, Rob Holding, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Eddie Nketiah, and Mohamed Elneny were all given starting berths as Arteta had one eye on the weekend’s clash with Leicester City.

A decent start from the hosts had energy and determination, but there was little avoiding that the team looked like one that hadn’t played many minutes together.

Arsenal: 4 talking points from 2-0 Carabao Cup win over Leeds as Mikel Arteta’s side book their place in the quarter-finals

Sead Kolasinac had the best chance for Arsenal in the first half as he collected the ball after Nketiah’s strong run, only to be denied by Illan Meslier at the near post.

Bernd Leno was on hand to keep the Gunners in the game as he made a couple of smart saves, including a strong hand to his left as Jack Harrison’s fierce drive went through a sea of bodies.

A much improved display in the second half saw Arteta’s men gain control of proceedings, with Chambers getting the ball rolling as he reacted quickest in the penalty box to head just over the line. Nketiah wrapped the game up after pouncing on Liam Cooper’s poor backpass, ensuring it was all smiles in north London.

As with any Arsenal match, it threw up plenty of talking points, and here they are.

1. Ainsley Maitland-Niles Coming Out Party

Playing his preferred central midfield position, the 24-year-old had perhaps his best game all season. Assured and confident on the ball, he made several interceptions as he looked at home in the centre of the park.

Partnering Elneny, Maitland-Niles was engaged and combative as he controlled the tempo at times while he and Elneny dealt with anything Leeds tried to throw their way. His reading of the game was impressive and like the man just behind him in defence, his calmness in the face of pressure steadied the Arsenal ship and kept Leeds frustrated.

He barely put a foot wrong as he was one of Arteta’s best performers on the night, possibly worthy of the man of the match award.

Tonight’s performance will give Arteta food for thought, especially when January rolls around and the likes of Thomas Partey and Elneny will be away on international duty.

If Maitland-Niles produces this type of performance consistently, then he will be first up when Arteta decides to rotate the squad. A superb performance from the Englishman, who looks like a capable deputy in that position when others aren’t available.

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2. Chambers Channels His Inner Nicklas Bendtner

Who could forget the derby goal against Spurs for the Dane? Coming off the bench in time for Arsenal to take a corner, Cesc Fabregas whipped it in and Bendtner rose highest to header home to send the Emirates crowd into raptures.

It was one of Arsene Wenger’s most memorable substitutions.

Well, Chambers did his best Bendtner impersonation on Tuesday. Coming on in the second half for the seemingly injured Ben White, Arsenal had a corner and after Emile Smith Rowe whipped it in, the ball was put back into the danger area by Nicolas Pepe who headed across goal to find Chambers with his first touch of the game, and after a brief Hawk Eye check, it was confirmed that he gave Arsenal the lead.

While Chambers’ goal did not have the same importance as Bendtner’s, it was a key moment in the game as the improved display after the break needed a goal to calm nerves.

The celebrations were heart-warming as Chambers, who hadn’t kicked a ball since August, ran over to the touchline towards set piece coach Nicolas Jover who has told him he would score with his first touch.

To be as far away from the first team as he’s been since returning from injury, it was a special moment for him.

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3. Comfortable Rob Holding Echoes His Teammate

Finally, just as it seemed that Arsenal and Arteta were getting cohesion in the heart of the defense, against Leeds, that was thrown into chaos. Ben White and Rob Holding were both forced off with apparent injuries and their availability for Arsenal’s next game against Leicester was plunged into doubt.

Fortunately any concerns over White were quelled immediately after the game as Arteta confirmed he was taken off after feeling unwell, the same illness that saw Pablo Mari miss out.

But what about Holding? A comfortable performance from the Englishman saw him embark on some uncharacteristic forays forward from his unusual left centre-back role.

Alongside White, whose elegance in possession was joyful to watch, Holding broke through Leeds’ lines on a number of occasions in the first half, perhaps as a nod to his manager that he’s not the only one capable of breaking from his defensive mould.

Holding isn’t challenging White for a starting berth any time soon, but he is still the second choice option for that position and seeing him add a little glamour to his normally low-block-try-and-pass-me self made for pleasant viewing.

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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.