Slow of the blocks but Arsenal ease past Leeds
Another final done and dusted, Nine to go if you go by the way the Arsenal team seems to be looking at this closing lap of the Premier League.
On a cold afternoon, Emirates was ready to go, Leeds, meanwhile knew their fate, depended more on the next two matches than this one. It showed in the starting lineup with both Rodrigo and Bamford on the bench.
Arsenal started slowly. Leeds for the better part of the first half were the ones with the better chances. The first one came within the first few seconds, Kristensen's stinging shot was collected by Ramsdale as a lumbering Arsenal defense failed to cut the angle off.
Arsenal, who kept hovering around the Leeds box, got the break first as Jesus spun his way into the box, fell, encouraged by a slight contact from Luke Ayling, and then scored the penalty. They went into the break a goal up.
THE SECOND HALF : Arsenal perk up.....
Arsenal looked different after the break, They seemed to have picked up wind in their sails. The passing, the patterns, and their pace looked familiar. Within two minutes of the restart, Martinelli. skipped past Ayling on the left and crossed, White on the right side crept in unmarked and poked the ball home.
The cushion was there now, and it showed as the Gunners started to impose themselves and Leeds was trying to avoid embarrassment
Trossard starting the day in place of Saka, exchanged passes with Jesus in the crowded box and Jesus slammed home for his second of the night. Leeds did manage to pull one back as a deflection off Zinchenko, beat Ramsdale, and marred his scoresheet.
Leeds, perked up, sensing a chance, but they were smothered by the fourth goal, as Xhaka headed home a wicked floater from Odegaard. In the end, Arsenal had seven wins in a row, and Leeds have a lot to do to stay alive among the elite.
Arsenal's Season : What's ticking
The 20-second passage leading to the fourth goal probably encapsulated the essence of Arsenal's performance this season.
Saka coming on as a substitute for Jesus, inched up the right. His reputation for trickery on the lines pulled in four Leeds players. As they tried to crowd him, in a very familiar move, he tapped the ball back to a waiting Odegaard. With a lot of space around him, Odegaard got the right float into the cross, and Xhaka in the box finished it off. All three doing what they have been doing well all season, Saka naughty on the lines, Odegaard with space, and Xhaka in the box more often than ever.
The day ended as it started.
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