Arsenal came from behind to beat Leeds 2-1 at the Emirates on Saturday, moving level with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League. The Gunners returned from the three-week international break with their fifth win from six league games this season.
Mikel Arteta’s side struggled to get past a well-organised Leeds team in the first half, but they found their rhythm after the interval. The result came on the same day the focus returned to the pitch after the announcement that City had been found guilty of more than 100 breaches of Premier League financial rules.
Leeds take the lead after struggling first half
Arsenal had difficulty breaking down Daniel Farke’s physical side before half-time and managed just one shot on target in the first 45 minutes. Noni Madueke was given a rare start on the left in place of the injured Christos Tzolis, but he and Bukayo Saka had little success against a defence that had conceded only three league goals all season.
Leeds came closest before the break. Jayden Bogle was denied from close range by David Raya after he and Anton Stach got in each other’s way, with Stach striking the ball against his teammate. Raya also got down well to stop a shot from Gabriel Gudmundsson from a tight angle.
The game opened up after half-time, with chances at both ends. Ao Tanaka forced Raya to tip a shot over, and defender James Justin then gave Leeds a deserved lead in the 55th minute. He finished sweetly from just inside the box after a Gudmundsson cross, silencing the home crowd in the October sunshine.
Calafiori and Guimaraes turn the match
Arsenal were level just seven minutes later. Riccardo Calafiori, who was unmarked, finished past England international goalkeeper James Trafford after being set up by Ben White.
Worse was to come for Leeds. Substitute Bruno Guimaraes scored the winner after some neat play down the Arsenal left, with Saka, Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice all involved. The goal was described as a finely crafted team effort that turned out to decide the match.
Title race tightens ahead of City’s trip to Liverpool
The win takes Arsenal to 15 points, behind City on goal difference. Arsenal had a perfect record before their 3-0 defeat by Brighton last month, and they have now bounced back in style.
City, who have a game in hand, travel to Liverpool on Sunday. They are braced for a hostile reception following the announcement of their guilty verdict last week.
