Arsenal 2-1 Leeds: 4 positives and negatives

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium in London on May 8, 2022. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium in London on May 8, 2022. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, MO
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 08: Martin Odegaard of Arsenal gets a shot in during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Leeds United at Emirates Stadium on May 08, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /

Negative #1 – Poor Conversion Rates

It should never have allowed to get as nervy as it did on Sunday. Leeds went up the other end, got their first corner, had their first shot in the match, and scored. Sod’s law, or a lack of cutting edge?

Not having Emile Smith Rowe on the pitch might have had some say in the matter, as while you can’t take Martinelli or Saka out of the team for the derby, being the strong finisher he is there is a solid chance one of the chances made against Leeds gets tucked away.

Presentable opportunities for Martinelli and Odegaard went begging, chances that could have put the game to bed much earlier and allowed Arsenal to stroll through the game all the way until the final whistle.

Being unable to properly convert has been one of the side’s big issues this season. That’s something that near enough every manager up and down the country will point to, yet it in the Gunners’ case it has resulted in unnecessarily nervy finishes to matches.

Only Wolves have won more matches by a single goal margin than Arsenal this season (10), with the spirit of George Graham’s sides very much alive in this group.

Next. We love you, Tomi. dark

Mostly this is down to having no capable striker, as well as young players still developing their technique, but it was the standout issue in a game where thankfully the result came through.