IT was a result involving another London club – as opposed to Arsenal – which ultimately had bigger ramifications for Leeds United on Saturday.
Supporters knew it, the media knew it. Daniel Farke, who misses nothing, also knew it.
When the Leeds manager conducted his post-match press conference, relegation rivals West Ham were winning at Chelsea in the late kick-off.
At the end of a hard day against a team who cast aside talk of a title wobble with the sort of proper performance you associate with champions, Farke will have felt a shiver when he glanced at the TV screens in the press room – showing live footage of events at Stamford Bridge.
COSTLY MOMENT: Leeds United goalkeeper Karl Darlow scores a 38th-minute own goal, to put Premier League leaders Arsenal 2-0 up during Saturday's clash at Elland Road. Picture: Carl Recine/Getty Imagesplaceholder image
COSTLY MOMENT: Leeds United goalkeeper Karl Darlow scores a 38th-minute own goal, to put Premier League leaders Arsenal 2-0 up during Saturday's clash at Elland Road. Picture: Carl Recine/Getty Images
Even more so after the Hammers’ second goal. Fortunately, things changed and how.
Farke knows full well that Leeds staying out of trouble is down to Leeds and no-one else. But sometimes, you need a little help along the way.
Third-from-bottom West Ham’s 3-2 loss means that they still trail Leeds by six points as opposed to three.
It took the sting out of the sort of defeat many feared when United embarked on a daunting run of fixtures at the start of winter.
Leeds United players appear dejected as the rain falls during the Premier League match against Arsenal at Elland Road, Leeds. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.placeholder image
Leeds United players appear dejected as the rain falls during the Premier League match against Arsenal at Elland Road, Leeds. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.
That it took until the final day of January to arrive is a barometer of Leeds’ progress. This was just their third reverse in a 12-game block which had encompassed games against 10 of the top 11 by the close of play on Saturday. It constituted their only thorough beating as well.
In terms of progress from Leeds’ 5-0 ‘welcome to the Premier League’ drubbing at the Emirates in August, there was little on the day. Initially, they made life uncomfortable for an Arsenal side who had lost Bukayo Saka in the warm-up. It was temporary and for the visitors, it was a case of normal service being resumed. Certainly on the set-piece front.
Leeds had to be perfect and hope that Arsenal, who came into the game without a win in three, were off it. It was false hope.
By the end, the final whistle was a relief in truth. As things were starting to get messy.
Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres celebrates scoring their side's third goal of the game during the Premier League match at Elland Road, Leeds. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.placeholder image
Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres celebrates scoring their side's third goal of the game during the Premier League match at Elland Road, Leeds. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.
Farke spoke about not ‘over-interpreting’ a 4-0 result against the division’s most consistent side. There were still some unwanted imperfections.
It was an afternoon which provided fuel to the doubters who suggest Leeds, for all their good work of late, still have a problem in goal. For a team in the bottom six mix, that’s an active concern.
When the game was live, Karl Darlow made the sort of blooper which had sadly been too commonplace at Elland Road over the past few decades. Rachubka-esque as one Leeds wag put it afterwards.
With Lucas Perri placed on the naughty step after Newcastle and Ilian Meslier nowhere to be seen due to last season’s chargesheet, Darlow’s indiscretion for Arsenal’s second goal was hardly reassuring.
Leeds’ uncharacteristic failure to attend to the finer points of defending were also damning on the day. Details are decisive, warned Farke beforehand, but his players weren’t listening for once.
Noni Madueke, Saka’s outstanding replacement, filled his boots.
His cross to pick out Martin Zubimendi for the opener was a beauty. Leeds’ failure to track the midfielder, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ilia Gruev looking the ones most culpable, was sloppy. The header wasn’t.
That was in the second phase of play following a corner. Soon after, Arsenal’s record as set-piece kings par excellence was reinforced in a moment Darlow would like to forget.
Madueke’s delivery from the right was inswinging and vicious. That said, Darlow, with Calvert-Lewin and James Justin in front of him, was far from commanding - he limply punched the ball into his own net at his near post and that was that.
Going the other way, Leeds’ xG expected goals was a derisory 0.15.
No Saka maybe, but Arsenal’s power was awesome – as was their bench.
There were more Leeds mistakes. Pascal Struijk and Jayden Bogle did not cover themselves in glory ahead of Viktor Gyokeres making it 3-0 from Gabriel Martinelli’s cross.
The fourth from Gabriel Jesus - another sub in Martin Odegaard was the creator – possessed class. Chelsea provided the balm fortunately.
Leeds United: Darlow, Justin (Longstaff HT), Rodon, Struijk; Bogle, Ampadu, Gruev (Okafor HT), Gudmundsson; Stach (Gnonto 81), Aaronson (Buonanotte 71); Calvert-Lewin (Piroe 85). Unused substitutes : Perri, Byram, Bornauw, Tanaka.
Arsenal: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie (Calafiori 75); Havertz (Odegaard 61), Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke (Martinelli 61), Gyokeres (Jesus 76), Trossard (Eze 81). Unused substitutes: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, White, Norgaard.
Referee: S Attwell (Warwicks).