Leeds 1-4 Arsenal: 4 talking points as Gunners stay fourth at Christmas

Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal side capped off a perfect week with a 4-1 drubbing of Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday night. A superb first half that saw Gabriel Martinelli (2) and Bukayo Saka find the net to send the Gunners on their way.

A rather tame second half saw Benjamin White give away a needles penalty after a brain fade, with Raphinha slotting home to give the home fans something to cheer about. However, substitute Emile Smith Rowe capped off a fine night’s work for Arsenal with a well-taken strike in the 84th minute.

Arteta again named an unchanged side and his players repaid the faith. A sensational first half from Arsenal saw Martinelli open the scoring 16 minutes in after Alexandre Lacazette nipped the ball away from Adam Forshaw, with the 20-year-old sweeping a curling shot first time into the top corner.

Arsenal was on the front foot and doubled their lead just 12 minutes later thanks to Martinelli again. A stray pass found Granit Xhaka who threaded a superb ball, one that Martinelli gathered and drove into the Leeds box with before dinking his effort over Illan Meslier to give Arsenal a deserved 2-0 lead.

Leeds 1-4 Arsenal: 4 talking points as Mikel Arteta’s side stay fourth at Christmas with Premier League win at Elland Road

Just before half-time Arsenal put the game beyond doubt. Bukayo Saka, who had been terrorizing the entire Leeds defence, found himself goal-bound after a superb one-touch pass from Martin Odegaard. Saka drove into the box and after a messy sequence, the ball found its way back to Saka whose shot was deflected past Meslier and Arsenal went into the break with a commanding 3-0 lead.

It was the first time since Opta’s stats began that a team had registered 11 shots on target in the first half of a Premier League match.

The second half was admittedly a letdown for Arsenal, which allowed Leeds a small avenue back into the game after Raphinha’s penalty. Nonetheless, Emile Smith Rowe, who is the “super-sub” of late, gave Arsenal their three-goal cushion near the end of regulation.

Here are the talking points.

1. Gabriel Martinelli is Sensational Again

What can be said that hasn’t already been said about our incredible Brazilian? The 20-year-old again put forth a ridiculously complete display, one where his superb brace didn’t tell the whole story. His first was a well-taken curling effort after Lacazette did well to dispossess Forshaw, but the second was all him.

Xhaka’s ball to find him was delightful but when Martinelli picked it up and drove into the box and with a little dink, lifted it over Meslier and into the net, that was something else. Ice coursing through his veins.

His energy, commitment, and work rate are second to none as he tormented the Leeds defence. Wondering whether he could add the vital final ingredients to his game, he’s proving that he can….and then some. His goals were added to be a game-high five chances created. There are few words befitting of his talent.

Rightfully, he won the Man of the Match award for the second game running. He is benefitting from a prolonged spell in the starting side and it is bearing fruit after having to bide his time for minutes.

Another great performance from a player that just four weeks ago many were fearful where his minutes would come from. However, he is clearly first-team material and is perhaps keeping Smith Rowe out of the team. This kid is something special. Aubameyang has his work cut out.

Continued on next page…