In contrast to the impeccable league phase carried out, the Arsenal I was going through a ‘bump’ in Premier that has reopened the fight for the title. But, after the painful defeat suffered against Manchester United, Zubimendi He rolled up his sleeves to get the Gunners out of the mud in Elland Road starting the rout against a Leeds (0-4) that had barely lost a game since the end of November.
Mikel Arteta He already warned before the meeting that he saw Havertz prepared to be a starter again… and that’s how it ended up being, acting as a playmaker behind Rooted. The great novelty, of course, came with the presence of Madueke on the right wing to the detriment of a Bukayo Saka who was injured in the warm-up.
It was the prelude to what awaited the Arsenal in a Elland Road always uncomfortable. It was difficult for the Gunners to settle on the pitch and the first chance of the game ended up falling for the Leeds at 10′. round jumped to bite a Rooted imprecise and Ampadou He finished with a hard shot from the edge of the area that went over the crossbar.
He responded immediately Zubimendi with another distant shot… but quite bitten. However, one more afternoon, the Arsenal He grabbed onto the set piece to begin to clarify the situation in the 26th minute. Maduekewho had served the corner, picked up the second play and served his first assist in Premier more than a year later in favor of his own Zubimendiwho anticipated the ‘whites’ defense by heading in at the near post.
It is already the fourth goal of the season in Premier for the Spanish pivot. Just one less than Of, Rooted…and ‘on its own’, the other great ally of the Arsenal this course. On this occasion, it was the goalkeeper Darlow the one who failed to clear another shipment from the pennant by Madueke to put land in the middle.
It was not a brilliant first part of the Arsenal. But, in addition to Raya He didn’t have to intervene, they were tremendously effective. In fact, Ampadou avoided further punishment by providing providential coverage Havertz when he was already loading his leg in the heart of the area.
The feeling was that Wake up He had to intervene when he rested and did not hesitate to dismantle the line of three that worked so well in the last matches. The truth is that it worked, since in less than five minutes Gabriel had to squeeze himself to clear a good center of Gudmundsson looking for Calvert-Lewin y Struijk headed a set piece service.
In counterpoint, the meeting began to open and the Arsenal He found spaces to go on the counterattack. Artetafor its part, gave entry to Odegaard y Martinelli after match time… and between them they made the 0-3 score, transformed by Rooted after eating the toast Bogle in small area.
The rain was getting heavier Elland Road…and the Leeds He was not spared from the downpour. And, with less than five minutes left, Odegaard enabled in the area a Gabriel Jesus who adjusted his shot to the post strain after ‘dancing’ to Struijk to finish closing a victory that clears up doubts in the Arsenal.
