Report: Arsenal 4-1 Leeds United

Leeds United suffered a 4-1 defeat at Premier League leaders Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, as the hosts continue their title charge.

Whites head coach Javi Gracia made four changes from the side which beat Wolverhampton Wanderers before the international break and Leeds nearly made the perfect start to the game. Inside nine seconds, after Leeds broke forward, the ball popped up kindly for Rasmus Kristensen to strike at goal, but he was denied by a really good stop by Aaron Ramsdale.

The hosts had a decent chance at the other end when Granit Xhaka found Gabriel Jesus in the Leeds box, but he could only head narrowly over.

Leeds created another good opportunity in the 29th minute when Crysencio Summerville played a lovely one-two with Marc Roca to break into the Gunners area, but his effort was well saved by Ramsdale.

A minute later Summerville broke forward and teed up Harrison, but he was denied from a narrow angle.

Leeds were left to rue the two missed chances, as Arsenal at the other end then won a penalty when Gabriel Jesus went down under a challenge from Luke Ayling and the Brazilian international made no mistake from the spot.

The hosts almost doubled their lead five minutes before the break. Leeds whipped in a free kick from the left flank which Arsenal cleared, before breaking forwards. Illan Meslier then intercepted a through ball from Martin Odegaard, before the ball fell to Gabriel Martinelli who attempted a lobbed effort, but Ayling got back on the line to clear for a corner, as the Whites went in trailing by a single goal at the break.

Leeds’ task got even harder after the break when former Whites defender Ben White fired home, following a dangerous cross from Martinelli, less than two minutes into the second period.

Things then went from bad to worse, when Jesus netted his second goal of the afternoon, slotting home from Leandro Trossard’s cross.

The hosts almost went further ahead from a corner which was met by Gabriel, but he couldn’t get the better of Meslier in the Leeds goal.

Leeds nearly pulled a goal back when Kristensen played Aaronson through on goal, he tried to lift the ball over Ramsdale from a narrow angle, but he couldn’t beat the Arsenal stopper.

Moments later Leeds carved out another good opportunity, this time the roles reversed, with Aaronson teeing up Kristensen, but he couldn’t keep his strike down.

Leeds pulled a goal back with 14 minutes of regular time remaining, as Harrison worked his way forward, the ball deflected into the path of Kristensen who found the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

However, Xhaka sealed the victory for the Gunners, when he headed home a fine cross by Odegaard.