Arsenal struck the ground running after the three-week international break to surge back and beat Leeds 2-1 and draw level with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League yesterday.
Mikel Arteta’s champions struggled to impose themselves on well-organised opponents in the first half but regained their mojo after the break to seal a fifth win in six games this season, AFP reports.
James Justin, the defender, gave Leeds a merited lead early in the second half at the Emirates, silencing the home supporters in the October sunshine.
But Arsenal equalised within minutes through Riccardo Calafiori, before replacement Bruno Guimaraes scored what proved to be the winner following a superbly executed team goal.
Saturday was back on the pitch following the bombshell announcement that City had been found guilty of over 100 breaches of Premier League financial rules.
But Arsenal, who had a pristine record before their 3-0 defeat by Brighton last month, found it hard to break down Daniel Farke’s muscular side in the first half.
Noni Madueke, left out of England’s latest squad by Thomas Tuchel, was given a rare start on the left of the Gunners’ attack in lieu of the injured Christos Tzolis.
But he or Bukayo Saka on the opposite flank had little pleasure against a defence that had conceded only three league goals all season.
Leeds had a pair of half-chances in the latter stages of the first half
Jayden Bogle and Anton Stach got in each other’s way first, with Stach hitting the ball against his fellow player, and Bogle was denied from close range by Arsenal custodian David Raya, who stepped out swiftly to smother his shot.
Then Raya made a good save to deny Leeds defender Gabriel Gudmundsson from a close angle.
Arsenal had one shot on target in the first half but the game opened up after the interval with chances at both ends.
Leeds midfielder Ao Tanaka had impressed forcing Raya to tip over before Justin put his side ahead in the 55th minute. The defender neatly finished from just inside the box after a Gudmundsson cross following a well-worked move down the left.
Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes got his head to it, but couldn’t keep the ball out of the net.
But the Gunners were soon level as only seven minutes later Calafiori was unmarked as he scored past England international custodian James Trafford after being set up by Ben White.
Guimaraes’s finish following some lovely play down the Arsenal left involving Saka, Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice made for a worse nite for Leeds.
The result puts Arsenal on 15 points, one behind leaders City on goal difference.
City under Enzo Maresca, a game to the good, are ready for a harsh greeting at Liverpool today after the announcement of their guilty verdict last week.
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