Arsenal turned a potentially awkward trip to Elland Road into a statement win, sweeping Leeds aside with a four-goal display that mixed set-piece ruthlessness with second-half incision. Even the late disruption of Bukayo Saka pulling up in the warm-up failed to dent their rhythm, with Noni Madueke stepping in and immediately shaping the contest.
Leeds began with the kind of front-foot intent their crowd demands, trying to make the pitch feel small and noisy. But Arsenal quickly started to pin them back, winning territory through sustained pressure and a stream of corners that kept Leeds’ defensive line permanently on edge. The breakthrough arrived on 27 minutes when Madueke’s delivery was met by the onrushing Martín Zubimendi, who powered home to puncture the early tension.
From there, the game tilted sharply. Leeds struggled to build any sustained attacking patterns, and Arsenal’s control without the ball was just as impressive as their craft with it. Eleven minutes after the opener, another set-piece caused havoc: Madueke swung in a corner that goalkeeper Karl Darlow could only punch into his own net, with bodies crowding the six-yard area and Leeds unable to clear the danger. Two goals down, Leeds needed a foothold before half-time but rarely found it, their few promising moments snuffed out by Arsenal’s positioning and anticipation.
The second half followed a familiar script: Leeds chasing, Arsenal choosing the moments to accelerate. Viktor Gyökeres, who had earlier spurned a one-on-one when Joe Rodon recovered to challenge, made amends in the 69th minute, stretching to convert a right-wing cross from Gabriel Martinelli after a swift move that sliced through Leeds’ shape. With the points secured, Arsenal still had the appetite for more. Gabriel Jesus added a fourth on 86 minutes, collecting a through ball from Martin Ødegaard, spinning and guiding a composed finish into the far corner to cap a polished away performance.
Daniel Farke was candid afterwards, praising the visitors’ level and admitting Leeds never found the attacking solutions required to trouble the league leaders. “Congratulations to Arsenal, a deserved win today. We have to accept the better team won this game,” he said, calling them “the best side currently in Europe” and pointing to the damage done by set-pieces and the lack of chances his team created.
Mikel Arteta, meanwhile, spoke about the mindset behind Arsenal’s response after recent scrutiny, stressing the importance of playing with conviction and enjoyment. “The mentality is good… with a conviction to believe in what we do and how good we are, and that we can beat any opponent,” he said, adding that expectation and outside “noise” must be turned into fuel rather than a distraction.
Match stats: Possession 49%–51%; xG 0.15–2.19; Shots 3–14; Shots on target 1–8; Corners 4–12; Yellow cards 1–1. Attendance: 36,858.
