Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes during the Premier League match at Emirates Stadium, London, October 10, 2026
Chelsea’s Jordan Henderson after the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge, London, October 10, 2026
Chelsea’s Jordan Henderson after the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge, London, October 10, 2026
Arsenal 2-1 Leeds United
by Layth Yousif
at Ashburton Grove
ARSENAL staged a second-half comeback to beat Daniel Farke’s impressive Leeds United 2-1 on Saturday.
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 match-winner: “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.”
On a gloriously sunny autumnal day in north London, it was Leeds who 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 that both sides were easing their way back into league action after three weeks of international camps.
The patternless opening spell ended on 20 minutes when 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.
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 equalised after forcing home Madueke’s cross.
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 arrived 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 relief as much as joy.
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.”