The venue, Elland Road… The opposition, Leeds United… the amount of pressure we’re under to win this game, unquantifiable.
The Whites are on the back of a 1-1 draw with Everton, away from home… and we’re on the back of a soul destroying home defeat, to Manchester United.
The bitter taste is still hanging around, and the wounds are trying to heal… but they’re still seeping.
3 points for The Arsenal, comes with miraculous healing properties.
Let’s leed Leeds on a merry dance, and remind ourselves, and the footballing world, that we’re the leeders of the pack, for a reason.
We have to leave The Whites, stained. Stained with the type of defeat, that doesn’t come out in the wash.
The team selection will be interesting, because Odegaard has come in for a bit of criticism lately, because by his own high standards, he hasn’t been playing well.
Does that open the door for Eze, I wonder.
Gyokeres, and Kai Havertz, were linking up well against Kairat, in the Champions League… and I’m thinking that Mikel Arteta should lean into that.
The point is… with everyone fit, and us not looking particularly dangerous in attack… Arteta has A LOT more things to ponder.
The starting line-up was, David Raya in goal, Hincapie at left-back, Gabriel and Saliba, central… and Timber at right-back.
The midfield was Rice, Zubimendi, and Kai Havertz. I wanted Havertz to start over Odegaard, but I didn’t think Arteta would do it. Just goes to show how much I know. (Haha!)
Kai Havertz started his first Premier League game, for almost a year.
Up front it was Trossard on the left, Gyokeres through the middle, and Madueke on the right. Madueke was called into the team late, due to Saka getting injured in the warm-up, just before kick-off. Yes… ANOTHER injury.
Mikel Merino is also a casualty, as he fractured a bone in his foot… and requires surgery. He’ll probably be out for the remainder of the season.
That’s a huge blow, as he’s so versatile, and he’s a great finisher too.
The atmosphere was hostile, the Leed’s players were flying into tackles, and it was all set up… for us to slip-up, on the proverbial banana skin.
The Gunners looked up for this match though… and we were moving the ball like we had a point to prove. Like there was more than 3 points at stake… Like we wanted to silence the doubters, and also remind the Arsenal faithful, that we’re an excellent team… and we won’t let a couple of bad results, derail our season.
In the 27th minute, Madueke created space for himself on the right, and put a teasing cross into the box. Zubimendi glanced the ball in, with a lovely header. 1-0 to The Arsenal!!
I was especially happy for Martin Zubimendi, because it was his mistake which led to Manchester United’s first goal, last week.
Leeds were now struggling to get out of their own half, and the decibels from the Leeds fans, dropped dramatically.
The clocked displayed 38 minutes played, and we earned a corner. Madueke curled in the corner, and the goalkeeper punched his own player, trying to prevent the ball from going in. He failed spectacularly… and Madueke had scored directly from a corner. 2-0 to The Arsenal!!
That’s a goal, and an assist, for Madueke… who’d been giving The Whites’ backline, a torrid time.
The first half ended 2-0 to us, and it could’ve been more.
Leeds have only suffered 1 defeat, in 10 games, so they’re a team in form… and they’re exceptionally good at home. We made them look average on their own patch, and I sensed that there were more goals in the game for us.
In the second half, we picked up where we left off. Leeds were chasing shadows, and couldn’t cope with our physicality, our movement, and the quickness in our play.
61 minutes had now passed, and Arteta took the opportunity to rest some players, and give minutes to others.
Martinelli replaced Madueke, and Odegaard replaced Kai Havertz.
There were glimpses of the link-up play, between Gyokeres, and Havertz… But also signs of signs of rustiness from Havertz, which is understandable, because he’d out for 4 months.
He’ll continue to build his minutes up gradually, until his match sharpness returns, and he gets used to playing 2-3 games a week again.
In the 69th minute, Martinelli made his marker look ridiculous, with his twists, and turns… then he crossed the ball in, with his weaker foot. His cross was met by Viktor Gyokeres… who outmuscled the defender that was holding him, and while almost falling down, he stretched out a leg, and put the ball in the net. It was a proper striker’s finish. 3-0 to The Arsenal!! That’s goodnight, and sleep tight, for Leeds United.
Mikel Arteta made more changes in the 75th minute.
Gabriel Jesus came on for Gyokeres, and Calafiori replaced Hincapie.
In the 81st minute, Eze replaced Trossard.
Odegaard was orchestrating the midfield, and showed glimpses of his old self, with some defence splitting passes. One of those passes found Gabriel Jesus, in the Leeds box, and with his back to goal. Jesus turned the defender brilliantly, and sent him for refreshments against his will… and then fired the ball in. It was a great, powerful, accurate finish… that gave the keeper no chance. 4-0 to The Arsenal!!… and that’s how the match finished.
The Whites, well and truly… stained.
An incredible performance from The Gunners, at a tough ground, and under immense pressure to get the result. We once again showed our mental strength, as we have done… all season long.
It was a professional, morale boosting, form building win. A win that reinforces our credibility, as potential champions.
Next, we face Chelsea at The Emirates, for the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.
We’re just 90 minutes away, from reaching our first cup final in 7 years.
First thing’s first though… Do you have anything to add to my match analysis?
Was Arteta right to bench Odegaard for this game?
Should we try to get someone in on loan, to cover Mikel Merino’s injury?
As usual, let me know in the comments. COYG!!
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