Bruno shines as Arsenal stage comeback against Leeds
Arsenal eventually underline quality and strength in depth to beat Leeds United 2-1 at the Emirates on Saturday
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Arsenal 2-1 Leeds United: Report by Layth Yousif
Champions. CREDIT: Layth (@laythy29)
Arsenal staged a second half comeback to beat Daniel Farke’s impressive Leeds United 2-1 on Saturday lunchtime.
Goals from Riccardo Calafiori and substitute Bruno Guimaraes ensured Mikel Arteta’s Premier League champions picked up all three points – a prospect that had seemed unlikely after the previously unbeaten visitors had gone 1-0 up in the 52nd minute through James Justin.
Speaking after the match, the exacting Arsenal manager said of his Brazilian matchwinner: “Every week, every game, every minute, every action, you must be at that level. And at Brighton [during the 3-0 defeat], he wasn’t, and today, he was much better, and he can still be much better in the games that he’s done, and that’s what we must demand.”
Kai Havertz and Ezri Konsa recovered from the knocks picked up on international duty for Germany and England during the Nations League camp to start, with Noni Madueke also in Arteta’s XI.
While Dominic Calvert-Lewin was striker for Leeds as Farke’s side aimed to continue their good start to the season.
On a gloriously sunny autumnal day in north London, it was Leeds that started the brighter, going close with Noah Okafor’s deflected shot that flew narrowly wide of David Raya’s left-hand post with the Gunners keeper in full flight.
That Leeds caught lethargic Arsenal offside four times in the opening minutes was surely evidence both sides were easing their way back into league action after three weeks of international camps. The shapeless opening broken, when, on 20 minutes Kai Havertz headed Madueke’s cross into the arms of James Trafford who gathered cleanly.
Six minutes later Raya blocked Jayden Bogle’s close-range effort, with the ball going off for a Leeds corner that came to nothing. as the home support attempted to rouse Arteta’s champions from their slumbers.
Leeds Ao Tanaka was rightly handed a caution by referee Paul Tierney after blocking Myles Lewis-Skelly’s run, with the visitors earning a second yellow card moments later, this time for captain Ethan Ampadu, who was rightly cautioned for lunging at Ben White as the match became ever more fractious.
Five minutes after the break, Trafford saved from Odegaard’s low effort that needed more power to trouble the England keeper, while Tanaka forced Raya into a fingertip save after his effort from the edge of the box 120 seconds later.
Arteta’s sloppy side failed to heed the warnings, deservedly falling behind when Justin emphatically fired past Raya to put the visitors ahead on 55 minutes, as a Gunners fan near the press box shouted to the home side: “Wake up.”
The reigning champions certainly did. Jolted into life at falling behind, Leeds advantage over Arsenal didn’t last long. Calafiori equalising after forcing home Madueke’s cross to level seven minutes later.
Worse was to come for Farke’s battling side, when substitute Guimaraes popped up to make it 2-1 in the 70th minute, shortly after coming on for Myles Lewis-Skelly. The goal arriving after a flowing move, including a sumptuous touch from Rice to set up Guimaraes, who crisply drilled his effort past Trafford, as the home crowd erupted in a relief as much as joy.
Reflecting after the final whistle, as graciously as ever, Farke said: ‘Congratulations to Arsenal. It’s down to Mikel who has created the mentality [that sees them win] even on a tough day…of course I’m disappointed but also proud after what was a very good performance…against one of the best teams in the world.”
Speaking after the match, the delighted Brazil star, shaking off the effects of jet lag after the Selecao’s gruelling trips to Australia and India during the latest camp, said: “It was a very special day for me.
“I think after the last game against Brighton we know we should do much better, and today, I think it was a great answer even if I believe we can do much more.
“But the three points was very good for us. We know how tight the Premier League is, so we’re very happy with the win.”
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