Arsenal’s attacking trio of Jurriën Timber, Bukayo Saka, and Viktor Gyökeres starred as the Gunners thrashed newly promoted Leeds United 5-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday evening.
New signing Eberechi Eze made his debut in front of Arsenal fans before kick-off, but Mikel Arteta had cause for concern as influential players Saka and captain Martin Ødegaard were both forced off injured. Their fitness will be monitored ahead of next weekend’s Premier League clash with reigning champions Liverpool at Anfield.
After a narrow 1-0 opening-day win against Manchester United, Arsenal appeared far more lively in this rout, scoring twice from corner kicks. Declan Rice’s corner in the first half found Timber, who powered a header into the net from close range. Interestingly, all three of Timber’s goals for Arsenal have come via headers assisted by Rice.
Saka doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time with a powerful angled strike that left Leeds goalkeeper Lucas Perri helpless. The England forward has now scored in Arsenal’s opening home league game for three consecutive seasons, following goals against Nottingham Forest in 2023-24 and Wolves in 2024-25. His goal also marked involvement in his 99th Premier League goal (54 goals, 45 assists), leaving him just one short of becoming the seventh youngest to reach the milestone. However, his second-half injury may delay that achievement.
Arsenal’s record of winning all 38 league games after leading by two or more goals at half-time ensured a Leeds comeback was unlikely, but it became virtually impossible when Gyökeres opened his Premier League account three minutes into the second half. The Swedish striker, who scored 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting CP before joining Arsenal, converted a trademark dribble from the left flank into a near-post finish, only his second shot in the competition.
Timber added his second of the evening in the 56th minute from yet another corner, highlighting Arsenal’s set-piece dominance. Since the start of the 2023-24 season, the Gunners have scored 33 Premier League goals from corners, at least 13 more than any other club, including Liverpool with 20.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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