Leeds 0-1 Arsenal: Bukayo Saka scores winning goal

2 years ago 26
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Bukayo SakaBukayo Saka now has four goals and five assists this season

Premier League leaders Arsenal held on to win at Leeds in a dramatic finish after the match had been delayed by about 40 minutes because of a power outage.

There was drama in stoppage time when referee Chris Kavanagh sent off Arsenal's Gabriel for kicking out at Leeds striker Patrick Bamford and awarded the hosts a penalty, but both decisions were overturned after Kavanagh reviewed the incident on the pitchside monitor.

Earlier, he halted the match after 23 seconds of play because of a power cut at Elland Road, which meant Kavanagh lost communication with the video assistant referee (VAR) officials, while goalline technology was down too.

Once they got going again, the impressive Bukayo Saka scored the winning goal in the first half by punishing Rodrigo's loose pass, exchanging passes with Martin Odegaard before smashing in high at the near post.

Bamford was sent on at the start of the second half and the Englishman almost made an immediate impact but his close-range strike was ruled out for a push on Gabriel.

Before the stoppage-time controversy, Leeds were awarded a penalty when William Saliba was adjudged to have handled the ball, but Bamford dragged his effort wide.

Leeds piled on the pressure and Luis Sinisterra's goal-bound shot was blocked by Gabriel, while Brenden Aaronson's arrowed strike from long range was pushed away by Aaron Ramsdale.

Mikel Arteta's side are now four points clear after making a highly impressive start to the campaign which has seen them collect nine victories from 10 Premier League games.

Bamford at the centre of controversial contest

Arsenal's only blemish this season has been a defeat at Manchester United and the Gunners showcased their mettle by somehow holding on for victory.

It wasn't without controversy though and they rode their luck in the second half.

Bamford, who replaced Rodrigo, saw a couple of efforts saved by Ramsdale, as well as sending his penalty wide.

In stoppage time, it looked as though he would get the opportunity of a reprieve when Kavanagh showed Gabriel a red card for kicking out at Bamford, but after consultation with VAR decided the striker had pushed the defender first.

Leeds had plenty of chances with the lively Luis Sinisterra drilling wide and seeing a low shot tipped wide by Ramsdale. From the resulting corner, Pascal Struijk's poked effort was clawed out by the Arsenal goalkeeper.

Ultimately, the home side could not find a breakthrough, increasing the pressure on boss Jesse Marsch as his side's winless run extended to six games.

More to follow.

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Leeds United

  1. Squad number1Player nameMeslier

  2. Squad number25Player nameKristensen

  3. Squad number5Player nameKoch

  4. Squad number6Player nameCooper

  5. Squad number21Player nameStruijk

  6. Squad number12Player nameAdams

  7. Squad number8Player nameRoca

  8. Squad number7Player nameAaronson

  9. Squad number11Player nameHarrison

  10. Squad number23Player nameSinisterra

  11. Squad number19Player nameRodrigo

  1. Squad number9Player nameBamford

  2. Squad number10Player nameSummerville

  3. Squad number30Player nameGelhardt

  4. Squad number43Player nameKlich

Arsenal

  1. Squad number1Player nameRamsdale

  2. Squad number4Player nameWhite

  3. Squad number12Player nameSaliba

  4. Squad number6Player nameGabriel Magalhães

  5. Squad number18Player nameTomiyasu

  6. Squad number5Player namePartey

  7. Squad number34Player nameXhaka

  8. Squad number7Player nameSaka

  9. Squad number8Player nameØdegaard

  10. Squad number11Player nameGabriel Martinelli

  11. Squad number9Player nameGabriel Jesus

  1. Squad number3Player nameTierney

  2. Squad number14Player nameNketiah

  3. Squad number16Player nameHolding

  4. Squad number21Player nameFábio Vieira

Line-ups

Leeds

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Meslier
  • 25Kristensen
  • 5Koch
  • 6Cooper
  • 21Struijk
  • 12Adams
  • 8RocaSubstituted forSummervilleat 84'minutes
  • 7Aaronson
  • 11HarrisonSubstituted forKlichat 75'minutes
  • 23SinisterraSubstituted forGelhardtat 89'minutes
  • 19RodrigoSubstituted forBamfordat 45'minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Ayling
  • 3Firpo
  • 9Bamford
  • 10Summerville
  • 13Klaesson
  • 14Llorente
  • 30Gelhardt
  • 42Greenwood
  • 43Klich

Arsenal

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Ramsdale
  • 4WhiteSubstituted forTierneyat 76'minutes
  • 12SalibaBooked at 62mins
  • 6GabrielBooked at 90mins
  • 18Tomiyasu
  • 5Partey
  • 34Xhaka
  • 7SakaSubstituted forHoldingat 82'minutes
  • 8ØdegaardSubstituted forFerreira Vieiraat 73'minutes
  • 11Martinelli
  • 9Gabriel JesusSubstituted forNketiahat 82'minutes

Substitutes

  • 3Tierney
  • 14Nketiah
  • 16Holding
  • 17Cédric Soares
  • 21Ferreira Vieira
  • 23Sambi Lokonga
  • 24Nelson
  • 27Oliveira Alencar
  • 30Turner

Referee:Chris Kavanagh

Attendance:36,700

Live Text

  1. Match ends, Leeds United 0, Arsenal 1.

  2. Second Half ends, Leeds United 0, Arsenal 1.

  3. Attempt missed. Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a corner.

  4. Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Gabriel Martinelli.

  5. Hand ball by Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal).

  6. Foul by Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal).

  7. Joe Gelhardt (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  8. Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card.

  9. VAR Decision: No Red Card Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal).

  10. Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  11. Foul by Patrick Bamford (Leeds United).

  12. Foul by Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal).

  13. Mateusz Klich (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  14. Foul by Fábio Vieira (Arsenal).

  15. Liam Cooper (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  16. Substitution, Leeds United. Joe Gelhardt replaces Luis Sinisterra.

  17. Attempt missed. Crysencio Summerville (Leeds United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Brenden Aaronson.

  18. Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  19. Foul by Rasmus Kristensen (Leeds United).

  20. Attempt missed. Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Fábio Vieira with a cross following a corner.

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