Arteta demands greater standards after Guimaraes edges Gunners past Leeds United
ARSENAL 2 LEEDS UNITED 1
Plain. Basic. Workmanlike. But still three points for Arsenal.
The Premier League champions found a way, if not via their customary verve.
It transpires that a lengthy international break can affect focus at serious club level after all.
While there was nothing especially life-affirming about this, a feisty Leeds United were eventually undone, despite going in front early in the second half.
By that point, Arsenal lost their direction and looked out of ideas in the first period, here there was always a possibility after a lack of serious activity for several weeks.
For long spells a game marked by uncharacteristic sloppiness and poor final balls into the box from the Gunners suited Leeds, who kept five players at the back, only for Mikel Arteta’s substitutions to slowly change the dynamic.
Viktor Gyokeres and Bruno Guimaraes added pace and vigour in the final third, vindicating the Arsenal boss, the latter scoring what proved to be the winning goal after Riccardo Calafiori equalised James Justin’s fine strike for Leeds.
Now sitting joint top of the Premier League with Manchester City, albeit with an extra game played, it was an afternoon of essentially taking the spoils and moving on. For the reigning champions are far more capable than this evidence.
'Tough'
“We knew it was going to be really tough”, admitted Arteta afterwards. “We didn’t capitalise on things which kept the game open. They (Leeds) were incredibly dangerous, but our reaction to win and to show our personality and courage shows you what we are made of.
“We have to manage the reality, as we play again on Tuesday and Sunday (against Lille and Nottingham Forest). Players have done very well for their national teams and we demand a lot from them. It’s all about raising the standards”.
There was, in theory at least, a real balance to the Arsenal line-up. Arteta, fresh from signing a new contract, had a luxury of selection for the visit of the Yorkshire side. Ezri Konsa partnered Gabriel at the heart of defence – a combination that you suspect will remain well-established for many seasons ahead.
Then, of course, there was the Declan Rice-Martin Odegaard midfield axis, which somehow Leeds had to penetrate in order to get something from their visit to north London.
After the international break, Arteta has to be mindful of personnel choices. The Gunners host Lille on Tuesday in the Champions League, where a real tilt is expected this term. How fortunate, then, that the Arsenal chief has the likes of Eze and Bruno Guimaraes in reserve – the expensive duo watched on from the substitute’s bench for this early kick off.
Perhaps a 1230 kick off time contributed to a distinct lack of drama at either end. Arsenal, predictably, savoured most of the possession, but the final killer ball from Rice and Bukayo Saka was lacking. In fact, it took until 20 minutes for the first notable opportunity. Kai Havertz’s header from six yards, via a Noni Madueke cross was well held by Leeds keeper James Trafford. The fare was lukewarm, with Gunners fans having to be as patient as the team itself.
Indeed, Daniel Farke’s side were tight, well-drilled and had an obvious game plan of containment and counter-attack, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin the focal point and physical presence. Anton Stach was central to the resourcefulness Leeds displayed for long spells here. Arsenal, on the other hand, were not utilising the flanks, particularly the right side, often enough to try and circumnavigate the Whites’ backline.
Yet it was one of those Leeds defenders, Gabriel Gudmundsson, who almost netted on the stroke of half time, only for his angled drive to be well parried by home keeper David Raya.
Forgettable
In reality, for a support accustomed to free flowing football and entertainment of the highest calibre, crowned by last season’s coveted Premier League title, the opening forty five minutes was both forgettable and dire.
The second half at least began in livelier manner, with Leeds looking to impose themselves more and profit from a certain degree of home frustration. Raya tipped an excellent shot by Ao Tanaka in the 53rd minute over the bar. A hint of things to come?
Well, yes, A minute later as it happened. Arsenal were caught down the left side by a raid from Gudmundsson – and with Raya missing his low cross, Justin drove the ball high into an empty net with the assistance of a rather helpless Gabriel on the goal line. The lethargic Gunners were potentially susceptible to such an incision and Leeds made it count in expert fashion.
However, against the run of play, the north Londoners somehow conjured up a leveller in the 62nd minute. Calafiori was on hand to force the ball home after Madueke found Ben White at the far post, who headed the ball back across goal. A fairly agricultural effort but one which was welcomed by the Emirates crowd under what had been hitherto irritating circumstances.
Arteta then looked for freshness – and Guimaraes, one of the replacements, finished with aplomb in 70 minutes, a move which was much more stylishly Arsenal. A nimble link-up by Odegaard and Rice saw the Brazilian, bursting forward, place a low shot past Trafford. A moment of rare quality to lighten the load around north London.
Leeds, for their part, remained determined, despite an admirable set up for an hour or so. But having edged in front, Arsenal were in the ascendancy, eking out the last swathes of a game which, other than three points earned and that neat Guimaraes intervention, will be largely forgotten about.
Gunners: Raya, Calafiori (Hincapie 82) White (Timber 63), Gabriel, Konza, Rice, Odegaard (Merino 90), Madueke, Saka, Lewis-Skelly (Guimaraes 63), Havertz (Gyokeres 63)
Comments