Gabriel Martinelli scored a brace while Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith- Rowe got on the score-sheet as Arsenal registered their third successive Premier League win.
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Arsenal thrashed Leeds United 4-1 in the Premier League fixture at Elland road on Saturday. Gabriel Martinelli scored a brace before the half-hour mark and Bukayo Saka tripled the lead towards the end of first half. Although Raphinha pulled one back for the hosts in the second half, Emile Smith Rowe completed the drubbing with Arsenal’s fourth of the night. Meanwhile it was the only Premier League game to go ahead on Saturday after Aston Villa’s match against Burnley was postponed due to a number of positive COVID-19 tests.
??????? Bukayo Saka – 20
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??????? Emile Smith Rowe – 21The future is now ? pic.twitter.com/MOwf96lmPD
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 18, 2021
Arsenal started the match positively, inside the opening two minutes, Martin Odegaard slid the ball through for Alexandre Lazazette, but Leeds goalkeeper Illa Meslier quickly came off his line to block the Frenchman’s effort and then, Saka sent the rebound agonizingly wide of an open goal.
Soon after, Odegaard was involved again, this time, he laid the ball to Thomas Partey on the right side of the penalty area, but the Ghanaian’s low drive was brilliantly kept out by Meslier at the near post.
The Gunners broke the deadlock in the 16th minute. It was a defensive error from Adam Forshaw, who got dispossessed inside his own box and the loose ball fell nicely for Martinelli to fire home past Meslier’s fingertips.
Arsenal continued to test Meslier as Granit Xhaka played a precise through ball to left-back Kieran Tierney but the 24-year-old’s low drive was parried away by Meslier at the near post. Meanwhile at the other end, Leeds got a good chance to equalize as Raphinha was played through on goal, but the Brazilian’s shot went inches wide.
The hosts were made to pay as Arsenal doubled the lead in the 28th minute. Once again, it was an error from Leeds that led to the goal. Foresaw lost the ball in the midfield that allowed Xhaka to counterattack. The Swiss midfielder delivered a perfectly timed through ball to Martnielli and the striker kept his composure to chip the ball over an advancing Meslier and into the goal.
It was a one-way-traffic as Meslier made another decent save to deny Lacazette from close range. Saka added to Leeds’ woes as he scored Arsenal’s third of the night in the 42nd minute. Saka collected the ball on the right before cutting inside and dribbled to the middle, although he lost the ball, Lacazette was there to nick it back. It fell again to Saka and the English winger squeezed the ball in at the near post with the help of a slight deflection from the defender. There was a brief VAR check for offside but the goal rightly stood.
After the restart, Leeds played much better football and saw more of the ball. Their first shot on target came in the 72nd minute as Tyler Roberts’ effort went straight at Aaron Ramsdale. Three minutes later, Leeds reduced the deficit when they were awarded a penalty. It was a rash tackle from Ben White on Gelhardt and the referee pointed to the spot. Raphinha stepped up and smashed the ball into the top corner.
But six minutes from time substitute Smith Rowe restored the three goal cushion. Odegaard played a superb chipped through ball to the English midfielder and the 21-year-old confidently finished with a first-time effort to secure Arsenal’s third successive league win.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said after the match: “It was a great performance from the lads. They’re the ones who have to play and execute [the game plan] against a team who are very uncomfortable to play against. I’m really pleased with the way they’ve played three games in a week, very physical games as well. I’m really pleased.
“We had some intentions with the ball and understanding how they were going to try and avoid us playing. I think the players understood the game really well. We were really effective, a real threat and in the first half we were really good.
“After a defeat [against Everton], you want a reaction, not just in terms of performance, but results as well. I think we deserved these three wins and we’re really pleased.”
