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.”
Leeds 0 - 3 Arsenal
Gabriel Martinelli scored Arsenal’s 7,000th top-flight goal, with the Gunners becoming only the third English side to reach that total since the Football League began in 1888, after Everton (7,139) and Liverpool (7,069).
Martinelli has scored his first Premier League brace in his 39th appearance in the competition, while he has as many goals in his last two league matches for Arsenal as he had in his previous 24 beforehand (3).
Half-time: Leeds 0 - 3 Arsenal
45+3 mins: A perfect 45 minutes for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal. The young players are once again on the scoresheet as Gabriel Martinelli has bagged a brace with Bukayo Saka adding a third.
Leeds’ downfall has been one of their own making. They’ve made far too many mistakes in their own half and have been easily drawn out of positions by smart runs from Saka, Martinelli and Lacazette.
Leeds 0 - 3 Arsenal
45 mins: There are going to be three minutes of added time to play. Leeds need a reset, they’ve conceded 10 goals in their last two outings and there’s still 45 minutes of this match to play.
GOAL! Leeds 0 - 3 Arsenal (Saka, 42’)⚽️
42 mins: He’s been after one and Bukayo Saka gets his goal! Leeds are pushing too high up the pitch and Saka is played in behind on the right wing. He carries the ball into the box and moves away from Robin Koch. Lacazette gets the ball but can’t turn it towards goal. Saka continues his run across the box, picks up the ball off Lacazette then hits a left-footed effort at goal. There’s a deflection off Mateusz Klich that allows the ball to sneak underneath Meslier and give Arsenal complete control of this game.
Leeds 0 - 2 Arsenal
41 mins: Xhaka is having a good game in the middle of the pitch for the Gunners. He’s been a commanding presence and has played some lovely passes through the lines up to the forward men. He does so here and sends Lacazette in behind Ayling. Arsenal’s captain knocks the ball back inside to Saka who fires one at goal but has his effort blocked by the combined forces of Dallas and Ayling.
Leeds 0 - 2 Arsenal
38 mins: Illan Meslier has made at least three brilliant saves so far and Leeds are still two goals behind. The biggest problem for the home side is their lack of discipline on the ball. They’ve repeatedly been caught in possession or given the ball away with slack passes in their own half and Arsenal have punished them for it.
Leeds 0 - 2 Arsenal
35 mins: Save! Leeds are all over the place. They lose the ball deep in their own half again and Saka is allowed to drive it into the box. He passes it across to Odegaard who squares it to Lacazette. He shoots from the left side of the box but Meslier is across quickly and keeps it out with a good body save!
Leeds 0 - 2 Arsenal
32 mins: Worrying signs for Leeds. Jack Harrison limps off the pitch and is replaced with Crysencio Summerville. That’s not at all what Marcelo Bielsa needed right now.
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