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.

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2. Martin Odegaard Finds His Level in Playmaking Masterclass

Similar to Martinelli, Odegaard was on the outskirts of the first team for a couple of months but is now getting a run in the side and his game has improved markedly.

Against Leeds, especially in the first half, his ability to drift between the lines and link play, as well as his willingness to push Arsenal forward at every opportunity, was a sight to behold. His first touch to send Saka through on goal to where he eventually scored and his delightful dink to find Smith Rowe for Arsenal’s fourth were more than easy on the eye.

His touches are now becoming more influential, and he is having bigger impact on games, and this is due to the confidence he has built from consistently starting matches and getting minutes under his belt. Given the run he deserves in that No. 10 slot, he’s found a level unlike any seen previously during his time with Arsenal.

Many turned their nose up at his £35m deal, but it looks like a bargain when he produces performances like this.

Now coming to terms with the English game, Odegaard is becoming the orchestrator that Arsenal need, and performances like tonight demonstrate why Arteta was so keen to bring him back after his loan spell last season. It’s incredible to think he just turned 23 years old when he demonstrates intelligence like that.

The Norwegian will be running the show for many years to come if he performs as he did tonight regularly. A true No.10 performance.

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3. Arsenal’s Fast Starts Are Here to Stay

One thing Arteta’s side has been known for over the last two or so months is their ability to start games on the front foot and put their early dominance on the scoreboard. Tonight, three goals in the first half rubber-stamped that.

Against West Ham, the performance had everything but a goal in the first half, against Southampton they scored twice in the opening 27 minutes, and they scored first against Manchester United and Everton, even though they somehow lost both games.

The performance in the opening 45 minutes was breathtaking but it is something we have become accustomed to of late. Energy, chance creation, team cohesion, and most importantly goals are all becoming a staple of Arteta’s side.

Most notable is the speed with which they attack. The pace is frightening and the exceptional movement from all across that forward line will trouble even the toughest defences in this division.

It is the youngest side in the Premier League this season and while there will be some growing pains, nights like this show that when they are on it from the outset, they are a dangerous side for anyone to face.

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4. Top 4 Place Consolidated at Christmas Day

This will be the first time since 2016 that Arsenal will spend Christmas Day in the top four. Yes, other teams haven’t played (some far less), but it’s still something to savour. Who would have foreseen that in August?

Answer: nobody.

Truly, who would have thought even just four weeks ago that Arsenal would be sitting four points clear in fourth spot in the league table? Well, that is where Arsenal find themselves.

While Manchester United (2), Tottenham (4), and West Ham (1) all have games in hand, Arsenal has put real pressure on those teams to get wins. It was a big chance for the Gunners against a depleted Leeds United and, for once, they capitalized.

While the first-half performance was something to marvel at, the second would give Arteta fits as they allowed Leeds a way back into the game, albeit briefly thanks to White’s foolishness. But on the whole, a 4-1 away win in the Premier League is nothing to turn your nose up at and Arsenal now heads into the busy Christmas period (COVID permitting) in good form and confident about where they are at as a team.

Merry Christmas.