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
59 mins: Dallas is down for Leeds now, getting treatment off the pitch for a rib injury by the looks of it. Things just keep getting worse for Marcelo Bielsa.
Thomas Partey gives the ball away to Raphinha and Leeds can counter-attack. It’s a decent move as the ball is played over to Gelhardt on the left side. His cross is headed out as far as Tyler Roberts and he shifts the ball onto his left foot and blets on shot high and wide.
Leeds 0 - 3 Arsenal
56 mins: Raphinha takes on Tierney on Leeds’ right side but he loses possession and the Arsenal left-back boots the ball into midfield. The home side recover the ball and attack down the right again. Raphinha slides a pass into the box for Klich who squares it into the six-yard box. Summerville tries to get to the back post but he’s blocked off by Tomiyasu who clears the danger for Arsenal.
Leeds 0 - 3 Arsenal
53 mins: Oh my. There’s an edge to this game now, Xhaka got anyway with his tackle on Raphinha who is fine to play on but Gelhardt is booked for a similar tackle on Tomiyasu. If anything Xhaka’s challenge was the worse of the two but they were both yellow card worthy.
Leeds 0 - 3 Arsenal
50 mins: Granit Xhaka is involved in a couple of altercations, first with Gelhardt and then Raphinha. The second one is the worst though as Xhaka comes over the top of the ball and stamps on Raphinha’s ankle. This isn’t great news for the Leeds forward who’s stayed on the floor and is being treated by the medical staff.
Leeds 0 - 3 Arsenal
48 mins: Arsenal win an early corner that Martinelli swings into the box. Gabriel is there to try and volley it on the turn but Koch gets in his way and blocks the effort.
Second half: Leeds 0 - 3 Arsenal
Kick off: This is a big second half for Leeds. It’s now a damage limitation task for the home side. Arsenal will want to rack up as many goals as possible. They’ll be enjoying themselves out there.
The Gunners get the match back underway at Elland Road. There hasn’t been any further changes from either team.
Sign up to The Independent’s free weekly sports newsletters
To sign up to our free sport newsletters for regular updates straight to your inbox.
Whether you would like a weekly rundown direct from our chief football writer Miguel Delaney or you want weekly sport digest from our sport editor Ben Burrows you can sign up by clicking here and scrolling to the sport section.
News | The Independent | Today's headlines and latest breaking news | The Independent
The latest breaking news, comment and features from The Independent.
Leeds 0 - 3 Arsenal
Arsenal’s 11 shots on target in the first half against Leeds is the most on record (since 2003-04) in the opening 45 minutes by any side in a single Premier League first half.
Leeds 0 - 3 Arsenal
13 of Arsenal’s 26 Premier League goals this season have been scored by players aged 21 or younger(50%), the second-highest ratio by a side in a single season in the competition’s history (excluding own goals), behind Leeds in 1999-2000 (65%).
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments