Premier League pace-setters Arsenal restored their eight-point lead over league holders Manchester City this afternoon during a 4-1 win over Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium to begin the home stretch of the 2022-23 domestic campaign.
A result in front of raucous home support was vital for Mikel Arteta’s young gunners if they are to keep their distance ahead of Pep Guardiola’s men before their second league meeting on 26 April, and the hot shot side did little to suggest that fans should be concerned that there is nothing left in the tank in north London after Arsenal hardly skipped a beat coming back from the international break.
Four goals.
Three points.
Two Gabby goals.
One big team win. pic.twitter.com/tAmZFZltbB— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 1, 2023
Though star man Bukayo Saka was given a rest and started on the bench, the Gunners were still in the mood in front of goal thanks to the return to the starting XI of Gabriel Jesus, who thanked Arteta by bagging a brace on either side of half-time, including an effort from the penalty spot to open the scoring on 35-minutes.
Right-back Ben white chipped in on the goals for the second time this season just two minutes after the restart for the Gunners’ second goal on the day only eight minutes before Jesus confirmed his brace, but Arsenal still failed to keep a clean sheet at home when Rasmus Kristensen’s effort from outside of the box deflected off Oleksandr Zinchenko to find its way past England international Aaron Ramsdale.
But Granit Xhaka would. pop up with a header in the 84th minute to restore the three-goal advantage, to take his goal contributions to ten on the season; the highest of any point in his club career.
WWWWWWW
Arsenal have won seven Premier League games in a row for the first time under Mikel Arteta.
What pressure? 🔴 pic.twitter.com/ytzkYFzVQk
— Squawka (@Squawka) April 1, 2023
It was the perfect response by a young side who many are waiting for them to show their youthful exuberance and stutter across the finish line behind the champions-elect, but with just nine matches remaining, Arsenal is very much in control while they continue to doubt their detractors at every turn.
In the end, the result, and maybe not even the scoreline, was all too surprising when the fortunes of both sides are compared. But for Arsenal fans, it is one more step toward their first league title in nearly 20 years that countless fans have been longing for.
Arsenal Player Ratings
- GK: Aaron Ramsdale – 6.5
- RB: Ben White – 7.5
- CB: Rob Holding – 7
- CB: Gabriel Magalhães – 7.5
- LB: Oleksandr Zinchenko – 7
- DM: Thomas Partey – 7
- CM: Martin Ødegaard – 7.5
- CM: Granit Xhaka – 8
- RW: Gabriel Jesus – 8.5
- LW: Gabriel Martinelli – 8
- CF: Leandro Trossard – 7.5
- Sub: Bukayo Saka – 6
- Sub: Jorginho – 6
- Sub: Emile Smith Rowe – 6
- Sub: Kieran Tierney – 6
- Sub: Fábio Vieira – 6
Leeds United Player Ratings
- GK: Illan Meslier – 5
- RB: Luke Ayling – 5.5
- CB: Robin Koch – 6
- CB: Pascal Struijk – 5.5
- LB: Junior Firpo – 6
- DM: Marc Roca – 6.5
- CM: Rasmus Kristensen – 7
- CM: Jack Harrison – 6
- RW: Luis Sinisterra – 6.5
- LW: Crysencio Summerville – 6
- CF: Brenden Aaronson – 6.5
- Sub: Rodrigo – 6
- Sub: Weston McKennie – 6
- Sub: Liam Cooper – 6
- Sub: Georginio Rutter – 6
- Sub: Patrick Bamford – 6
