Leeds vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction tonight
Leeds 1-4 Arsenal: Gabriel Martinelli hit a double, with Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe also scoring with Raphinha’s penalty the consolation for the Whites
Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli’s double helped Arsenal ease to a dominant 4-1 win at Leeds United in the Premier League on Saturday.
In the only Premier League game to go ahead on Saturday due to a huge rise in COVID-19 cases among players, Arsenal blew beleaguered Leeds away with a blistering first-half display.
Having shipped seven goals at Manchester City in midweek, Leeds were repeatedly carved apart in the opening period, with Martinelli’s brace putting Arsenal 2-0 up inside 28 minutes.
Frustrations were palpable all round Elland Road as Bukayo Saka added a third for Arsenal three minutes before the break, with the scoreline not at all flattering for the dominant London side.
Leeds did threaten a late comeback when Rafinha converted a penalty 15 minutes from time, but substitute Emile Smith Rowe’s late goal put the game beyond the hosts.
Arsenal’s third league success in a row consolidated fourth spot in the standings, while Leeds‘ second successive hammering left them down in 16th, five clear of the drop zone, but having played three more games than Burnley in 18th.
“I am very happy with the performance, the week that we had, and the way we are moving forward,” Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta said.
“It is always difficult to play against Leeds. They didn’t give up on the second half. I am pleased, it is not easy to play the way we did in this atmosphere. We made a real statement.”
The visitors were well on top from the start against an injury-ravaged Leeds. Home goalkeeper Illan Meslier was forced into a fine save as the hosts’ defence still looked shell-shocked after their mauling at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.
Saka should have scored from the rebound, but Arsenal did not have to wait long for the opener as Martinelli, leading the line in place of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who was again left out for a disciplinary breach, arrowed a shot into the top corner.
The Gunners continued to dominate, with Scotland full back Kieran Tierney forcing another fine save out of Meslier, before the hosts mustered their first attack as Rafinha fired wide.
Martinelli, whose Arsenal career has been plagued by injury, made it two after brilliantly latching onto Granit Xhaka’s through pass and lofting the ball over Meslier.
Saka’s goal had an element of fortune about it as a deflection took it past Meslier whose performance ensured it was only three at the break.
Arsenal’s 11 shots on target in the first half is the most in the opening 45 minutes by any side in a single Premier League match since 2003-04, when Opta started collecting such stats.
Leeds improved in the second half and deservedly got a lifeline when Ben White fouled Joe Gelhardt in the penalty area and Rafinha hammered in the spot-kick.
Without injured striker Patrick Bamford, however, Leeds lacked the firepower to complete the turnaround and Smith Rowe’s calm finish ended their faint hopes.
It was the first time Leeds have lost three successive league games under manager Marcelo Bielsa.
“There were more chances generated than the goals that they scored,” Bielsa said. “When we lost the ball in our own half, this increased the amount of chances they (Arsenal) could create.
“Always the support like the team received today is inspiring to us. It is not easy when a team has conceded 14 goals in three games. If the fans were not so supportive of me, I could understand it.”
GOAL! Leeds 1 - 4 Arsenal (Smith Rowe, 84’)⚽️
84 mins: Smith Rowe’s done it again! He starts the move with an interception on the left wing and passes the ball into Odegaard before driving up the wing. Odegaard carries the ball up the middle of the pitch and flicks the ball into the box. Smith Rowe bursts in from the left and hits the bouncing ball on the volley, smoking it past Meslier to restore Arsenal’s three-goal lead.
Leeds 1 - 3 Arsenal
83 mins: Adam Forshaw and Martin Odegaard come together in the middle of the pitch. It’s an innocuous knock but Odegaard makes the most of it and stays down in an attempt to take some time out of the game.
The Leeds fans let him know what they think of that play-acting and it’s safe to say they’re not impressed.
Leeds 1 - 3 Arsenal
80 mins: A change for each side. Mateusz Klich is replaced with Sam Greenwood for Leeds and Emile Smith Rowe comes on to replace Bukayo Saka for Arsenal.
Are there more goals in this game? Leeds look the more likely team to score again. It’s a matter of game management for Arsenal now.
Leeds 1 - 3 Arsenal
78 mins: Arsenal break on the counter-attack with Odegaard sliding the ball up to Martinelli. He runs in between the centre-backs before dinking a pass into the box for Lacazette. He’s tracked all the way into the box by Drameh who intercepts the pass and clears the lines for Leeds.
GOAL! Leeds 1 - 3 Arsenal (Raphinha, 75’)⚽️
75 mins: No messing about with that one! Raphinha takes the spot kick and blasts it into the top right-hand corner! Leeds are still a long way behind but they’ve given themselves hope.
Penalty to Leeds!
Leeds 0 - 3 Arsenal
73 mins: White brings down Gelhardt in the box! Poor and reckless from the Arsenal centre-back. Leeds have the chance to get one back.
Leeds 0 - 3 Arsenal
71 mins: That was nice work from Summerville who takes on three Arsenal defenders on the edge of the box and manages to lay off a pass back to Dallas. He sends it wide to Klich who gives the ball to Roberts in the box. He’s dispossessed by Partey though and Arsenal sweep forward on the counter-attack.
Leeds 0 - 3 Arsenal
68 mins: Odegaard shoots from range and has a shot blocked. The rebound comes to Saka who whips a left-foot at the ball but is denied by Ayling. Arsenal keep up the pressure as Saka drifts over to the left side. He gets the ball and plays a one-two with Martinelli to get in behind on the left side of the box. When the ball comes back to him he shoots across goal but fires wide of the back post!
Leeds 0 - 3 Arsenal
65 mins: Cedric Soares is the first change for Mikel Arteta. He replaces Takehiro Tomiyasu who’s just gone down with a slight knock.
Cody Drameh has seen a lot more of the ball in Arsenal’s final third since the restart. He’s whipped a few crosses in from the right wing but hasn’t been able to pick out a teammate in the Arsenal box.
Leeds 0 - 3 Arsenal
62 mins: Leeds have looked way more threatening since the match restarted after half-time. Arsenal haven’t found any on their fluidity from the first half yet.
Stuart Dallas is back on the pitch for Leeds.
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