Bukayo Saka’s first-half strike turned out to be the winner, as Arsenal brought Leeds United’s six game unbeaten run at Elland Road in all competitions to an end, Abbeylivenetwork.com reports.
Looking for their first Premier League (PL) win since August, Leeds United played host to an Arsenal side fresh from an impressive 3-2 victory over Liverpool. Any early momentum that either side could have gained was quickly dashed, however, when a power cut at Elland Road caused problems with referee Chris Kavanagh’s communications system, leading to a 37-minute delay to proceedings.
With the power back on, it was the hosts who started with more energy, before eventually testing Aaron Ramsdale in the Arsenal goal, when Liam Cooper forced the shot-stopper into a low, diving save to palm the ball away following a Leeds corner. It was then the turn of Gabriel Jesus to spurn a promising opportunity, hitting an effort from close-range uncharacteristically over the bar. The Gunners made no mistake with their next chance, however, with Bukayo Saka taking advantage of Rodrigo’s misplaced crossfield pass, before finding the top corner of Illan Meslier’s near post to make it 1-0 in the 35th-minute.
In an attempt to turn the game on its head, Jesse Marsch introduced Patrick Bamford at HT in what was almost an instant tactical masterstroke. The striker found the back of the net in the 46th-minute, only for the referee to signal for a foul from the Englishman after a push on Gabriel Magalhães, to keep the score at 1-0 to Arsenal.
The Leeds pressure was certainly building as the game went on, and they received the ultimate chance to equalise when the referee pointed to the spot after a VAR check on Saliba’s handball inside the area. Bamford stepped up, having changed the game, before sending a disappointing effort wide of the goal. The onslaught continued after the missed penalty, but Ramsdale denied the hosts yet again. And that proved to be the story of the game. Arsenal held on to secure their longest winning run in all competition since October 2018 to go, perhaps momentarily, four points clear, leaving Leeds 15th.
