Arsenal 2-1 Leeds: 4 positives and negatives

There is only so much more of this the heart can take. Worst of all, the most emotionally sapping Arsenal game is still to come. The heart will have to endure more.

What should have been the closest resemblance to a spring walk through the local park was anything but. Scoring twice inside the opening ten minutes tends to constitute a degree of ease. Playing with one more player than the opposition for 60 minutes, and at home, almost certainly does.

But it wouldn’t be Arsenal unless they found a way to make a position of such command almost unbearable to watch. There were people at the Emirates hiding in the toilets.

Eddie Nketiah’s remarkable resurgence saw him get in on the act twice, the first the reward for a tenacious and determined start and the second the reward for Arsenal’s excellent start collectively.

Arsenal 2-1 Leeds: 4 positives and negatives as Gunners take one step towards top four place ahead of Tottenham derby clash

Then Luke Ayling lost his head and got sent off, Raphinha probably should have followed him, and Mateusz Klich thought he’d join in on the act by doing his upmost to wind Granit Xhaka up. That doesn’t take a great deal of effort, mind you.

Talk emerged of trying to slap Leeds for six or seven to make up the goal difference on Spurs, chat that proved to be horribly premature. Never, ever, take anything for granted.

While Arsenal still saw the vast majority of the ball for most of the game heading into the closing stages, the blistering pace of Daniel James meant the points were never sewn up. What had the potential to be one of the most relaxing Sundays of the season turned into a nail-biting affair, all of the Gunners’ own doing.

Points are points, though. At this stage of the season with victory over Tottenham in the derby enough to secure Champions League football for 2022/23, they’ve never been more precious. Let’s take a look back on the good and the bad from a nervy 2-1 Premier League win.

Positive #1 – Energy Saved for Large Spells

From around the moment Ayling got sent off up until Leeds scored in the 66th minute, this was smooth sailing for Mikel Arteta’s team. Leeds had lost the will to live and came out in the second half effectively acting as training cones for Arsenal’s attacking patterns.

Takehiro Tomiyasu ended up in the half-spaces, Granit Xhaka practically played as a No.10/centre-forward, and the ball could be calmly pinged around just waiting for the first sign of miscommunication in the Leeds defence.

For about 40 or so minutes, if not more, this was a training exercise. Ahead of facing a Tottenham side – who played the day before – in what feels like the biggest game since the FA Cup final (even more so than Villarreal, really) any chance to take the foot off the pedal is most welcome.

And perhaps, in some peculiar way, the way the game ended might be more suitable preparation for Thursday. Arsenal were cantering to victory, barely breaking a sweat, and had the game persisted in that manner then the inevitable cauldron of emotion and ferocity at Spurs might have been a significant difference.

But that could be stretching.

Additionally, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli didn’t complete the full 90 minutes so they weren’t pushed that little bit more. Ignoring the result and the torture that ensued in the latter stages and it was fairly beneficial preparation.

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Positive #2 – Tomiyasu Finishes the Game and White Not Far Off

Filling in at left-back, you would have been forgiven for believing Takehiro Tomiyasu had played there all his career.

Granted the game state and man advantage made life easier for him, but even when Leeds had 11 men on the pitch he had to deal with the threat of Raphinha on that side, that which he did comfortably.

Having come off with cramp in the previous outing against West Ham there was some concern as to how long the 23-year-old would last in this match, so to come out with 90 minutes under his belt, a solid performance and a stint at left-back (a nod to the derby?) made for the ideal afternoon.

It was also hugely reassuring to hear that Benjamin White, despite not making the squad, could be in line to return against Tottenham.

"Arteta said post-match: “I think so [that White will be available], he’s been starting to do a little bit of work now on the pitch and we want everybody available because we know that game is so important.”"

Would he come in for Rob Holding? The thought of Cedric dealing with Heung-min Son is upsetting, thus keeping Tomi out on the left to deal with Kulusevski while White goes to right-back to handle Son might be on the cards.

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Positive #3 – Arsenal’s ‘Weaknesses’ in the Form of Their Lives

A lot has understandably been made of the general quality of the Arsenal teams that have been put out over the last four games. Lineups featuring Cedric, Mohamed Elneny, Rob Holding and Eddie Nketiah are fighting for Champions League football.

Even just a few weeks ago that would have been an absurd thought.

Yet two of those supposed weaknesses are in the best form of their entire Arsenal careers. Looking back across their respective time at the club, have Elneny or Nketiah ever played this well? Nope, they haven’t.

Elneny has had spells in the team during his early years, but his form has never been this strong. The calmest head in capital is being tidy in possession, progressing the ball through the lines, playing passes into space(!), and bringing control to the team in moments of paramount importance. It can’t be understated how valuable he’s been in the latter stages of matches when Arsenal are holding onto a lead.

As for Nketiah, he’s in the form of his life. Initial concerns over his involvement centred around him being unable to do ‘Lacazette things’, yet he’s doing the lay-offs and interplay the Frenchman offers to a high standard. His touch looks strong, he looks strong, and confidence is coursing through his veins at moment with four goals in his last four starts.

Even when he wasn’t scoring there were loud calls for Lacazette to play in the ‘big’ fixtures like Spurs, but right now you wouldn’t dare change Nketiah.

Arsenal have two previously fringe players operating at the peak of their powers to date. Well timed, lads.

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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.

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.