A round-up of how the media across the country reported on Leeds' impressive display at Arsenal
Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Leeds United is challenged by Ezri Konsa of Arsenal
Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Leeds United is challenged by Ezri Konsa of Arsenal(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
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Leeds United may have lost their unbeaten record at Arsenal but they kept hold of their admirers across the media spectrum with an impressive display.
Daniel Farke's men have been widely praised for their performance in going down 2-1 at the Gunners, with a unanimous verdict the visitors were the best side for a large portion of the match and were deservedly ahead in the second half.
Here's a selection of how the media and pundits have reflected on the game at the Emirates Stadium.
Harry Pool, BBC Sport
Terrifically organised in defence and brave in attack, Leeds were fully deserving of their opener once it arrived 10 minutes after half-time. James Justin sent the travelling support into raptures, in an away fixture they have not celebrated a league victory in since May 2003, when he slammed in from Gabriel Gudmundsson's pull-back.
Arsenal appeared uninspired and unsettled but found a much-needed quick response when Riccardo Calafiori converted at close range after being teed up by Ben White. Accompanied by an immediate triple change by Mikel Arteta, which included the introduction of £75m summer addition Bruno Guimaraes, the atmosphere at a restless Emirates Stadium was transformed.
Alan Shearer, Match of the Day
“First half, I have to say Leeds were brilliant. I think they made it really, really difficult for Arsenal.
Danny Murphy, Match of the Day
"Even early in the second half, it took them (Arsenal) a while to get going. Leeds were terrific.”
James Justin of Leeds United celebrates scoring
James Justin of Leeds United celebrates scoring(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
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Riath Al-Samarrai, Daily Mail
This was an ugly, unconvincing win and the kind that owed as much to the tiring legs of Leeds as it did to the qualities of the team that beat them. In the minutiae of the first half here, Arsenal were joltingly poor; they weren’t outplayed in the style of their defeat against Brighton, but they were worse in the ways that they shrank from the physical battle. Worse in how willing they were to go with the flow. Worse in the details of how James Justin was able to score early in the second half...
It was a bad goal to concede and it was almost followed by a second that would have made a real drama of this match. Arsenal survived those attempts, however, and relocated enough class and grit to capitalise when the effort finally told on Daniel Farke’s resources. Unbeaten in the league before this game, Leeds had run themselves into exhaustion.
Sunaadh Sagar, ESPN
Leeds, who were unbeaten so far this season, proved exactly why in the first half, as Daniel Farke' side frustrated Arsenal. The visitors were the better team, reducing Arsenal to just four shots on goal (lowest in five years), while Leeds went close with Gabriel Gudmundsson forcing David Raya into a good save on the stroke of half-time.
Arsenal remained off the pace after the break, and Leeds took a deserved lead in the 55th minute, as James Justin rifled the ball home from a narrow angle after running onto the end of Gudmundsson's low cross. Arteta's side were stunned.
Tarik Muharemovic of Leeds United put under pressure by Bukayo Saka
Tarik Muharemovic of Leeds United put under pressure by Bukayo Saka(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
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Sam Blitz, Sky Sports
After their 3-0 loss to Brighton before the international break, a blip threatened to become a bigger issue as Leeds not only were the better team for the best part of an hour at the Emirates - but they took the lead through James Justin's strike 10 minutes after half-time.
It was the least Leeds deserved. David Raya made four saves to deny the Whites before the opener - and with Farke's side holding the joint-best defensive record coming into the game, Arsenal were in trouble.
Martin Keown, TNT Sports
“Credit to Leeds, I thought they were outstanding. “(They were) compact, good in the duels and tenacious. The system was causing Arsenal all sorts of problems.”
Joe Cole, TNT Sports
“Leeds were the better team for 65 minutes, make no bones about it.”
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