Mikel Arteta - Arsenal
Mikel Arteta - Arsenal
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Arsenal’s squad depth pulled them out of trouble against Leeds United on Saturday.
Mikel Arteta’s side came from behind to win 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium, scoring twice in eight second-half minutes.
They did it without William Saliba, who is out long term with a back problem, and Christos Tzolis, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Leeds, unbeaten in the league before kick-off, had more shots and more shots on target in a goalless first half. They went ahead through James Justin in the 55th minute.
Arteta prepared a triple substitution and kept to it even after Riccardo Calafiori equalised in the 62nd minute. Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ben White and Kai Havertz made way.
The winner followed in the 70th minute. It came from one of the substitutes.
That player was Bruno Guimaraes. Afterwards, he explained what he wants from his own performances.
“For me it’s important when I’m on the pitch to give my best – give a little bit of a headache for the manager,” he told TNT Sports.
Guimaraes said the team showed a different attitude after the Brighton defeat. “I feel unbelievable,” he said.
“I feel in the last game against Brighton we were not the level that… and today the mentality was bouncing back.”
He also spoke about playing at the Emirates.
“To be honest, to be fair, this is my first official game at home, it’s been unbelievable: score an important goal, three important points and yeah, great finish, I’m very happy.”
The goal came from a team move. Captain Martin Odegaard carried the ball into the Leeds half and found Declan Rice, whose first-time flick set up Guimaraes to finish into the bottom left corner.
Brighton beat Arsenal 3-0 on 19 September, the champions’ first league defeat of the season after four straight wins. Arteta said Arsenal wanted to restore their identity after that display.
It was the second time in three league games that Guimaraes had scored the winner from the bench. The first came at Sunderland. He scored that goal as a half-time substitute on 12 September.
Guimaraes joined from Newcastle United in August on a four-year contract, for a reported £75million. He missed the opening-day home win over Coventry City with a groin injury picked up in the Community Shield.
After the Brighton defeat, he called Arsenal’s performance unacceptable and not fit for a champions’ shirt.
His goal against Leeds was the response he wanted.
“I’m just very glad to score my first goal here at the Emirates, an important goal,” he said. “We want to be champions again so three points is always welcome.”
The win took Arsenal to 15 points from six games, level with leaders Manchester City.