Match Report: Arsenal Complete Comeback to End Leeds Unbeaten Start

Arsenal were able to overcome a lacklustre start after falling a goal behind on a sunny afternoon at the Emirates Stadium, as they ran out 2-1 winners in a hard-fought victory against previously unbeaten Leeds United this afternoon.

Arsenal started the game well, and were out of the traps quickly looking to make amends from the 3-0 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion before the international break. Despite being caught offside on several occasions in early proceedings, Arsenal were beating the Leeds press well and finding the likes of Declan Rice, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Martin Ødegaard in the pockets. Although the Gunners enjoyed some good early moments and the majority of the ball, they never really tested James Trafford in the Leeds United goal. 

As the half wore on, Leeds started to grow into the game nicely. Long balls were played up to Dominic Calvert-Lewin who was holding the ball up for Daniel Farke’s side with incredible effect. In the moments that Arsenal were able to break up play, Leeds were able to get back into their shape very well, getting into a back five extremely quickly to soak up any pressure. 

David Raya was tested more than James Trafford in the first-half. Despite Arsenal boasting more of the ball, a Kai Havertz header straight at the England shot-stopper was the best Arteta’s side were able to muster. Leeds had some extremely encouraging moments of their own. Jayden Bogle blocked a goal-bound volley from his own man, with Raya forced into action to stop a looping header from Calvert Lewin before an extremely smart stop from a close-range strike from Gabriel Gudmundsson. The Arsenal backline was starting to be stretched. 

There was no doubt that Daniel Farke went into the break the happier of the two managers.

HALF TIME: Arsenal 0 Leeds United 0 

Into the second half and neither side made any changes at the break, and it was Leeds United who carried on from where they had left off with Arsenal making several unforced errors and being very sloppy in possession. With that being said, Arsenal did have the first chance of the second half, but Odegaard’s tame effort was comfortably saved by Trafford in the Leeds United goal. 

Arsenal were really struggling to get a hold of the game, and in the 54th minute, Farke’s Leeds took a deserved lead after a good cross from Gudmundsson found James Justin, who fired first-time past Raya and a helpless Gabriel on the goal line. The Emirates was stunned into silence. It could have got worse for Arteta’s side minutes later, with Noah Okafor inches away from sliding in a second. 

Arsenal knew they had to rally, and just minutes later, were level through Riccardo Calafiori. A deep cross from Madueke was met by Ben White who headed back across goal for Calafiori to bundle the ball home.

Mikel Arteta responded to getting the equaliser by making a triple substitution, bringing on Jurriën Timber, Bruno Guimarães and Viktor Gyökeres and the Gunners never looked back from there. A flip of the switch and Arsenal were suddenly playing like champions again. Bruno Guimarães changed the game, and in the 70th minute, the Brazilian put Arsenal 2-1 ahead, rounding off a beautiful team move to fire into the bottom left corner from just outside the box. Comeback complete. 

From there, Arsenal were able to see out the game, with both Gyokeres and Saka failing to round off the performance with a third goal, squandering huge chances at the death. Despite the misses, there is no doubt Arteta will be happy with the comeback and the courage shown to get all three points having gone behind. 

FULL TIME: Arsenal 2 Leeds United 1 (Calafiori 62’ Guimaraes 70’) (Justin 52’) 

The Gunners don’t have much time to recover, as they are straight back in action on Tuesday night when they host French side Lille in their second match of this Champions League campaign, before travelling to Nottingham Forest next Sunday as they look to continue the momentum.