Premier League
Leeds United 0
Arsenal 4 (Zubimendi 27’, Darlow OG 38’, Gyökeres 69’, Jesus 86’)
Leeds: Darlow (GK), Bogle, Gudmundsson, Ampadu (C), Struijk, Rodon, Calvert-Lewin (Piroe 85’), Aaronson (Buonanotte 71’), Stach (Gnonto 81’), Justin (Longstaff 46’), Gruev (Okafor 46’). Subs not used: Perri (GK), Tanaka, Bornauw, Byram.
Arsenal: Raya (GK), Saliba, Hincapié (Calafiori 75’), Gabriel (C), Timber, Gyökeres (Jesus 76’), Trossard (Eze 81’), Madueke (Martinelli 61’), Havertz (Ødegaard 61’), Zubimendi, Rice. Subs not used: Arrizabalaga (GK), Mosquera, White, Nørgaard.
Venue: Elland Road
Attendance: 36,858
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Booked: Gudmundsson (Leeds) Timber (Arsenal)
It was not to be for Leeds United on Saturday as the Whites’ strong home form came undone against Premier League leaders Arsenal.
On January’s final afternoon, Leeds manager Daniel Farke made one change to his squad from the previous fixture with Gabriel Gudmundsson returning from injury and Sebastiaan Bornauw dropping to the bench.
The match’s first chance came to the hosts after Joe Rodon’s challenge on Viktor Gyökeres saw the ball fall to Ethan Ampadu outside the area. The captain’s sharp strike curled just over the bar.
As the half wore on, the Gunners stepped up their pressure. Centre-halves Pascal Struijk and Rodon were called into action to defend two set-pieces before a Declan Rice long throw was cleared well by Anton Stach.
But the visitors’ quality eventually told, as Noni Madueke’s cross found Martín Zubimendi in the box to nod past Karl Darlow. The Gunners nearly doubled their lead a few minutes later though Gyökeres’ header flew wide.
Arsenal did go two goals ahead in the closing minutes of the period. Madueke’s corner kick squirmed through a number of bodies and into the back of the net.
Looking for a route back into the contest, Leeds stepped up their pressure but the half wound down with Whites unable to break through.
HALF TIME: Leeds United 0-2 Arsenal
Boss Farke made two changes at the half, as Noah Okafor and Sean Longstaff replaced Ilia Gruev and James Justin in a slight change to the system.
Leeds kept pushing as the second period got underway and, from a second Stach corner, Struijk’s header forced David Raya into a diving save low to his right.
Down the other end, Wales international Rodon was wary to the danger of Gyökeres and stepped across to force the ball behind as the Swede charged through on goal. From the resulting corner, Jurriën Timber headed over.
Backed by the vocal home contingent, United upped the pressure inside the visitors’ half but, against the run of play, it was the North London outfit who got the all-important third as Gyökeres poked home from a Gabriel Martinelli cross.
Shortly afterwards, Darlow reacted brilliantly to stop a dangerous header from substitute Gabriel Jesus and the Whites cleared the resulting corner.
Yet in the closing moments, Jesus did extend the Arsenal lead before Stuart Attwell brought proceedings to a close in the rain.
The Whites return to Premier League action next Friday evening as they welcome Nottingham Forest to Elland Road under the lights.
FULL TIME: Leeds United 0-4 Arsenal
