In the pivotal round of the Premier League title race, Arsenal showed an almost perfect face at Leeds United's stadium. After 3 consecutive winless matches in the Premier League, Mikel Arteta's team not only needed points, but also needed an affirmation of their bravery. And they responded in the most convincing way.
Right in the first half, Arsenal showed why they are leading the rankings. Leeds - the team unbeaten in the last 5 home matches - was quickly pushed into a defensive position.
Continuous pressure from corner kicks and crosses made the home team's defense falter. The opening goal came from Martin Zubimendi's accurate header, opening up a one-way game.
The Gunners' superiority is not only in their ball control ability, but also in the way they create chaos in the opponent's penalty area. From another corner kick, goalkeeper Karl Darlow clumsily scored an own goal, helping the away team double the score.
Stepping into the second half, when Leeds was forced to push up, Arsenal had even more space to deploy their signature style of play. Viktor Gyokeres increased the score to 3-0 with a close-range finish after a quick combination on the left wing.
The game was considered decided from that moment on. Gabriel Jesus' late goal was the end of a perfect evening for the "Gunners".
The 4-0 victory is even more valuable when Arsenal had to change plans at the last minute. Bukayo Saka had physical problems during warm-up and could not play. His replacement, Noni Madueke, shone with two assists, showing both the depth of the squad and Arteta's flexible maneuverability.
With 3 full points, Arsenal temporarily widened the gap with the chasing group to 7 points. More importantly, they dispelled psychological doubts and sent a decisive message in the championship race.
Some other notable results in round 24 of the Premier League:
Brighton 1-1 Everton
Wolves 0-2 Bournemouth
Chelsea 3-2 West Ham
Liverpool 4-1 Newcastle
