In what was a controversial showdown at Elland Road on Sunday afternoon, Arsenal managed to grab a hard-fought 1-0 victory away at Leeds.
Opening this weekend’s fixtures holding a one-point buffer on the prime of the Premier League desk, the high-flying Gunners solely prolonged on what has been a outstanding begin to the 2022/23 marketing campaign.
With England worldwide Bukayo Saka finally bagging the winner 10 minutes earlier than the half-time interval, Arsenal discover the temper of their camp at a red-hot excessive.
Piling extra stress onto a Leeds aspect which have come crashing again right down to earth after their eye-catching begin to the brand new season, the Whites will probably be feeling that they deserved to go away Elland Road with one thing to indicate for his or her efforts.
With Patrick Bamford lacking a second-half penalty, we now have taken a have a look at the principle speaking factors following Sunday’s assembly in Yorkshire.
Can Arsenal actually make historical past this season?
Watching on as Liverpool claimed an exhilarating 1-0 victory in opposition to defending champions Manchester City later within the day, some in Arsenal’s camp is likely to be beginning to imagine that they’ll spring a significant upset this season.
While the Gunners may need finally missed out on clinching a top-four return again in May, Mikel Arteta’s aspect have opened the brand new marketing campaign within the midst of a outstanding purple patch.
Although Arsenal may need suffered a 3-1 loss away at Manchester United again on September 4th, Arteta’s kids have managed to show that was only a minor blip.
Laying down an actual marker final weekend as they clinched an exhilarating 3-2 victory at dwelling in opposition to Liverpool, Sunday’s visitors have now gained 9 of their opening 10 Premier League appearances this time round.
While the Gunners may not have been at their scintillating finest right here, there isn’t a doubt that Arteta would have been pleased with the rugged show that his aspect put in at Elland Road.
Heading into the midweek fixtures now holding a four-point buffer over the chasing pack, might Arsenal actually stun world soccer this season?
Leeds should take positives away from a gritty efficiency
Opening the 2022/23 marketing campaign with a 2-1 victory at dwelling in opposition to Wolves on August eighth, Leeds had gained loads of plaudits from throughout the Premier League.
With their stellar begin underlined by a thumping 3-0 romp in opposition to Chelsea, Jesse Marsch’s males firmly had their sights set on avoiding one other relegation scrap this time round.
Only simply clinging to their top-flight standing again in May, the Yorkshire-based outfit have largely come crashing again right down to earth after their eye-catching begin.
However, whereas Sunday’s 1-0 loss in opposition to the title outsiders may imply that they’re within the midst of a six-match Premier League winless run, the previous RB Leipzig boss should take away the positives from Sunday’s showdown at Elland Road.
Asking Arsenal a string of questions and watching Bamford fireplace his second-half penalty broad, Marsch’s aspect created a number of golden probabilities right here.
Glad to have welcomed again 23-year-old Luis Sinisterra again from a one-match suspension, Leeds now face a must-win contest in midweek after they make the journey to Leicester.
Saka’s firing on all cylinders
Although Saka may need opened the brand new marketing campaign with only a single Premier League purpose from any of his opening eight Premier League appearances, the England worldwide is now having fun with a massively spectacular run of type.
Appearing to have hit the bottom working since getting back from September’s worldwide break, Arsenal’s homegrown famous person was as soon as once more Arteta’s standout performer right here.
Opening the scoring 10 minutes earlier than the half-time interval and finally leaving Elland Road with the winner, Saka has now bagged 4 targets in his three matchups throughout all codecs over the previous week.
Bagging a brace in opposition to Liverpool on October ninth as they claimed that action-packed 3-2 victory, the 21-year-old has additionally notched 4 assists in as many appearances.
With it trying like Saka is near agreeing on a bumper new deal on the Emirates, Gareth Southgate will even be excited by the teen’s latest purple patch.
Expected to play an element in England’s World Cup marketing campaign out in Qatar subsequent month, Saka underlined his class as soon as once more on Sunday afternoon.
Match Report:
Leeds: Meslier, Nissen, Koch, Cooper, Struijk, Adams, Roca, Aaronson, Harrison, Sinisterra, Rodrigo
Subs: Bamford, Summerville, Klich, Gelhardt
Arsenal: Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu, Xhaka, Party, Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli, Jesus
Subs: Tierney, Nketiah, Holding, Vieira
Goals: Saka (35′)
Yellow Cards: Saliba, Gabriel
Red Cards: N/A
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
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