Leeds United 0-1 Arsenal: Player ratings as Gunners escape with victory

Arsenal preserved their status as Premier League leaders as they escaped Leeds with a 1-0 victory over Jesse Marsch’s side. 

There was no fast start for the Gunners on this occasion as a power cut inside Elland Road caused a delay of 40 minutes after the game had just got underway. A frantic contest ensued with Leeds starting brighter, but an awful Rodrigo switch saw Arsenal pounce as Bukayo Saka drilled his effort over Illan Meslier at the near post.

The visitors carried their lead into half-time, but they were met by a rampant Leeds after the restart. The hosts battered the Gunners in the second half but they spurned chance after chance, including a penalty – which Bamford dragged wide.

Leeds were relentless until the last (they had a penalty ruled out by VAR at the death), but they couldn’t find a much-deserved equaliser with Arsenal hanging on to claim all three points.

Leeds 0-1 Arsenal player ratings

Here are the Arsenal player ratings from their victory at Leeds.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Aaron Ramsdale (GK) – 8/10 – HUGE. Ramsdale bailed out the Gunners today. He made a fine save to deny Pascal Struijk in the first half, before going on to frustrate Bamford after the break. A stellar showing.

Ben White (RB) – 5.5/10 – Luis Sinisterra troubled White more than anybody since Wilfried Zaha on Matchday 1. Leeds’ overload down the left overwhelmed the right-back before his withdrawal.

William Saliba (CB) – 5.5/10 – A game of two halves for the Frenchman. Saliba never looked like giving the ball away in the opening period, but he gifted Bamford a huge chance after the restart and gave away a penalty from which Leeds failed to capitalise.

Gabriel (CB) – 6.5/10 – This was a rare occasion when Gabriel outperformed his centre-back partner. The Brazilian was far from perfect, but he covered well on occasions and positioned himself well to prevent Leeds crosses from threatening. The wild sequence at the end was too much to digest.

Takehiro Tomiyasu (LB) – 5/10 – Tomiyasu didn’t look anywhere near as comfortable at left-back on this occasion. While he was tasked with performing a specific function against the Reds, the defender looked a little more unsure of himself at Elland Road.

Continued on the next slide…