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Max Dowman came on for Noni Madueke to make his debut (REUTERS)
Morning all.
It was all going on at Arsenal yesterday. Josh Kroenke was in town in to watch the early evening game against Leeds. Before though, he spoke to Arsenal Media about the success in the women’s game with Arsenal winning the Champions League and England the Euros. He thanked the fans for their support, urging for more of the same over the next ten months. He also spoke about transfers:
Over the summer we’ve strengthened all our teams with significant investment. We’ve welcomed six new signings to our men’s team, alongside four new women’s players joining the Arsenal family and we’ve invested in our academy too. We have made the signings we set out to do. We’re also equally delighted that a number of players have committed to the club. It makes us all incredibly proud to see Myles and Ethan break through and commit their futures to the club that’s nurtured and developed them into Arsenal players. They know what it means ‘to be Arsenal.’
As kick off drew near, this:
Arsenal’s signing number 7, Eberechi Eze, our new number 10, and what an entrance he made too. So cool, casual and just brilliant. No gimmicks, no weird head masks, just a stroll through the tunnel to the fans. Once all the applause and cheers died down, North London Forever belted out and then the game kicked off.
I thought we started quite well. Bright and lively but with Leeds settling into defence mode, the game soon settled into one which saw Arsenal dominate possession without really causing too many problems. In fact Leeds probably caused themselves as much of a problem as we did. An early chance fell to Odegaard but he could only find the side netting and another opportunity arose when our pressing from the front handed possession to Zubimendi. He played the ball into Gyokeres but he stuck his shot wide.
Leeds won a corner which caused Arsenal’s defence a problem. Struijk got his head to it but Raya was there with a big hand to push the ball over the bar.
35 minutes in, we struck gold. A wicked Rice corner met by the head of Timber who simply guided the ball into the net. It wasn’t long after that when Odegaard, who’d previously landed awkwardly following a challenge, left the pitch. Hopefully his shoulder is just bruised rather than anything more serious. Nwaneri replaced him and looked right at home in midfield.
Just before Gillet blew his whistle for half-time, Saka doubled our lead with a thunderous shot off his right foot. Having put pressure on Leeds in their own third, Rice won possession, he passed to Zubimendi who in turn, played the ball to Timber. The Dutchman slipped a lovely pass to Saka who had eyes only the goal. No sooner had the Leeds keeper seen the ball coming, it was past him. Brilliant.
Shortly after the break, the moment we have been waiting for arrived when Calafiori played the ball down the left to Gyokeres. The big fella wriggled his way past a couple of defenders as he cut into the box before striking the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the net. His first of many I hope.
Another piece of rotten fortune came shortly after when Saka went over with what appeared to be a hamstring injury. Hopefully it’s not a really bad one. He was replaced by Trossard with Madueke switching to the right.
Arsenal didn’t let up. 3-0 became 4-0 from another Rice corner which Leeds couldn’t clear and Saliba couldn’t get his foot to but Timber was in there and somehow managed to poke the ball home. With three substitute options still available to Arteta, he used all of them. Mosquera replaced Timber, Lewis-Selly replaced Calafiori and Dowman replace Madueke. As the game went into added time, Dowman went down our right, jinked his way into the box before Anton Stach stood on his toe. Jarred Gillett didn’t hesitate to point to the spot. Gyokeres hammered the kick home.
A bitter sweet day really though. The bitter, both Saka and Odegaard picking up injuries which look likely to keep them out for a few weeks at least. The sweet was the confirmation of Eze, two goals for Gyokeres and Timber, 5 for the team. A Premier League debut for Dowman who looked right at home at this level. Nwaneri in the centre of midfield look comfortable too. Madueke made his first start and I thought he played well, especially after switching to the right.
Next up is a trip to Anfield.