Gabriel Martinelli’s brace against Leeds United powered Arsenal to their third win in a row in the Premier League.
As many as five games in the Premier League on Saturday were cancelled due to the outbreak of COVID among football clubs, with Arsenal’s fixture against Leeds United at Elland Road the only one going on as per schedule. For the first time in Leeds’ history, they have registered just 3 wins in 18 games, as Arsenal thumped four goals past the Yorkshire side.
Arsenal started on the front foot and Meslier was forced into action as early as the third minute, to deny Alexandre Lacazette’s low shot. He made three saves in the first five minutes did the Leeds keeper, but was finally beaten by the brilliance of Gabriel Martinelli.
The Brazilian youngster pounced on a loose ball and smashed it to the top-right corner. Granit Xhaka was in the center of this attack, drawing a foul but Martinelli took advantage of the loose ball. 10 minutes later, the youngster got his second with the men in white getting cut open with a sensational through pass from Xhaka. Martinelli clipped it past Meslier to make it 2-0 inside 30 minutes.
Chances kept galoring for Arsenal with Leeds United pushing further high up on the pitch. Shortly after Lacazette’s shot was blocked, Bukayo Saka got their third courtesy a deflected effort that went past the keeper. The visiting unit went into half-time with the 3-goal cushion and came back with a motive to hold the lead.
Leeds managed to gain further control on the ball but they struggled to find a way past the Gunners’ backline.The likes Roberts, Somerville, Raphinha and others did their best to penetrate through, but were always caught out before entering the final third.
All their hard work in the Arsenal half finally paid off in the 73rd minute, when Gelhardt made a searing run into the box and Ben White’s challenge was deemed offensive by the referee, who gave the hosts a penalty. Raphinha, their man of the season thus far, smashed it towards Aaron Ramsdale’s left and sent the keeper the wrong way.
Just as the hosts were starting to sniff a comeback, Mikel Arteta made a crucial change, bringing Emile Smith-Rowe for Bukayo Saka. The young number 10 managed to get his 7th goal in 16 league appearances after Martin Odegaard’s chipped ball was volleyed home with perfection by the 21-year-old. Once they went 3-1, there was no looking back.
That proved to be the telling blow on the day, as Arsenal managed to see through the final few minutes without much fuss. This win takes them into the 4th spot, and is their 10th win in the last 15 games.
