Arsenal player ratings vs Leeds: Martinelli scores twice in 4-1 win

Arsenal secured all three points against Leeds on Saturday as a brace from Gabriel Martinelli and goals from Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe earned the visitors a 4-1 victory at Elland Road in the Premier League.

There was belief among some Arsenal quarters that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang might be in with contention for a role in Yorkshire, only for it to emerge that he isn’t due to return until after AFCON.

That meant Alexandre Lacazette led the line once again as he had done in the previous two matches, with Mikel Arteta opting to field the exact same lineup that beat secured six points from the previous three matches.

In doing so it became the first time since May 2015 that Arsenal had fielded the same starting eleven in four consecutive Premier League matches.

Arsenal player ratings vs Leeds as Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Smith Rowe score in superb 4-1 Premier League win at Elland Road

One of the more remarkable halves of football under Arteta unfolded on Saturday as Arsenal had no less than 11 shots on target in the opening 45. The two first goals were exceptional finishes from Gabriel Martinelli, with the first seeing him bend a thumping drive into the top corner following fine work from Lacazette.

Granit Xhaka then thread a delightful through ball for him to run onto where he showed immense composure to dink the ball over Meslier, before Saka added a third with a deflected strike.

It was a far tamer affair for Meslier after the break, with the outclassed hosts gifted a route back into the game when Benjamin White’s stupid challenge gave Raphinha the chance to convert from the spot, which he did.

The points were finally wrapped up by the super-sub Emile Smith Rowe, who came off the bench to score for the second game running. It wasn’t a pretty second half, but it was a pretty scoreline.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Aaron Ramsdale (GK) – 7/10 – A quiet night for Ramsdale who still managed to pick out some neat ground passes into feet. His long distribution wasn’t quite at its best, though.

Takehiro Tomiyasu (RB) – 8/10 – So much of Arsenal’s play centred down the left or high on the right, with the right-back sitting so deep in the Gunners’ asymmetrical style. Nonetheless, Tomiyasu carried out all his duties well and defended his right side brilliantly.

Benjamin White (CB) – 7/10 – Really technically secure in possession and was the guy willing to carry out when Leeds sat off in a slightly less ambitious block. Excellent throughout but then went and made a ridiculous challenge to concede the penalty. A blackspot on a fine performance.

Gabriel (CB) – 7/10 – Mostly untroubled in such a dominant display. Essentially had to keep things tidy at the back and avoid putting his side under pressure, which he did.

Kieran Tierney (LB) – 7/10 – He’s building a fine combination with Martinelli down the left. Together with Xhaka they linked up repeatedly and kept trying to be positive on the ball in wide areas, and is slowly building up his technical sharpness.

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