Arsenal 2-1 Leeds: Player ratings as Guimarães winner spares Gunners blushes

Arsenal put a sloppy performance behind them to fight back and beat Leeds United 2-1 in their return to action after the international break.

Mikel Arteta thought he'd have injuries to worry about ahead of this clash, but it wasn't as bad as first thought as Kai Havertz remained the starting striker despite withdrawing from duty with Germany. Noni Madueke took up the left wing while Ben White returned to right back.

Leeds made life difficult for the Gunners in the opening stages and were proving to be a tough nut to crack, preventing a first chance until the 20th minute. Havertz waited for a cross in the centre of the box and headed towards goal, but James Trafford held it comfortably.

David Raya was called into action twice as he ran back well to prevent a looping header trickling over the line before denying Gabriel Gudmundsson from a tight angle to ensure the tie was goalless at the break.

The first chance of the second half came Arsenal's way when Madueke and Riccardo Calafiori combined to win back possession before the winger found Martin Ødegaard with a cutback, but the captain's tame effort was saved.

The Gunners were soon made to pay for their sloppy performance when Gudmundsson sent a low cross all the way to the far side of the box for James Justin to meet and fire in the opening goal.

Just as Arteta looked to make drastic changes, his side pulled themselves level when Madueke swung a cross over to the back post for Ben White to meet and head back across where Calafiori was waiting to volley past Trafford.

That equaliser brought Arsenal and the Emirates crowd to life and it was the manager's tactical switch that paid off as the newly introduced Bruno Guimarães fired his side in front from the edge after a swift team move by the champions.

Leeds searched for an equaliser while the Gunners went on the hunt for a third, but neither side could find it and the champions saw out the closing stages to seal a crucial comeback victory.

Here are the Arsenal player ratings from their win over Leeds.

Arsenal 2-1 Leeds player ratings

Goalkeeper & Defenders

David Raya (GK) - 7/10 - Reacted well to run back and stop a looping header going over the line before starting a counterattack with a sensational pass. Tipped an effort from Tanaka over the crossbar.

Ben White (RB) - 6.5/10 - Assisted Calafiori's equaliser with his last touch of the ball. Linked up well with Saka and kept Okafor quiet in the early stages, but not his best showing. Taken off after the leveller.

Ezri Konsa (CB) - 7/10 - Stuck a foot out to block a ball that was destined to send Calvert-Lewin through. Battled well with his England teammate throughout the tie.

Gabriel Magalhães (CB) - 6.5/10 - Couldn't keep Justin's effort out despite an attempt to block it on the line with his head. Guilty of giving the ball away at times but tidied up as the game went on.

Riccardo Calafiori (LB) - 7/10 - Won back possession to allow Madueke a chance to run in down the left side. Volleyed in his side's leveller with striker's instinct to meet White's headed cross and beat Trafford. Replaced for the late stages.

Midfielders

Martin Ødegaard (CM) - 7/10 - Had a tame effort from the edge of the box saved by Trafford. Started the move for the second with a pass into Rice to flick back for Guimarães' strike. Withdrawn for the final minutes.

Myles Lewis-Skelly (CM) - 6/10 - Guilty of taking too long on the ball at times and looked off the pace before being withdrawn just after his side's equaliser.

Declan Rice (CM) - 7/10 - Quiet for much of the game until he played a sublime flick for Guimarães to run onto and net their side's second of the match. Looked lively from there with darting runs on and off the ball. Almost set up his side's third with unbelievable skill at the back post, but it wasn't converted.

Forwards

Bukayo Saka (RW) - 6.5/10 - Struggled against Gudmundsson and Muharemović at times and didn't really find his feet until his side got on the scoresheet. Fired an effort over the crossbar in the search for a third.

Kai Havertz (ST) - 6.5/10 - Should have done better with a header that was saved easily by Trafford. Pretty quiet performance other than a few touches ahead of being hooked after an hour.

Noni Madueke (LW) - 6.5/10 - Teed his captain up for a shot but it was saved. Sent a cross to the back post for White to head back into the centre where Calafiori met it for the equaliser. Made amends with his involvement but his overall display was sloppy.

Substitutes

• Jurrien Timber (on 63' for White) - 6.5/10
• Bruno Guimarães (on 63' for Lewis-Skelly) - 7/10
• Viktor Gyökeres (on 63' for Havertz) - 6/10
• Piero Hincapié (on 81' for Calafiori) - 6.5/10
• Mikel Merino (on 90' for Ødegaard) - N/A

Player of the match: Bruno Guimarães

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