The Londoners would cap off their dominant first half performance when Bukayo Saka’s deflected shot found its way past a helpless Illan Meslier in the Leeds goal, extending Arsenal’s advantage to 3-0 just before the HT whistle. With a healthy lead in hand, Arsenal dropped deeper in the second half, allowing the home side more of the ball. As a result, the home side would be gifted a route back into the match in the 74th minute when Joe Gelhardt was rashly taken down in the box by Ben White, forcing the referee to give the hosts a penalty. The subsequent spot-kick was emphatically struck into the top corner by Raphinha, cutting Arsenal’s lead to just two goals with fifteen minutes remaining. Any chance of a Leeds comeback was ended via a late Emile Smith Rowe strike which ensured Arsenal collected all three points, putting the final nail in the host’s coffin.
Not only did the recent form of the two sides indicate an Arsenal victory at Elland Road, the away victory makes it seven matches in a row in all competitions unbeaten in Leeds for the North London side, a streak which has stood since 2000.
