Leeds United v Arsenal 0-1 Match Report

In a game that dragged on for 40 minutes due to a power cut, Bukayo Saka stepped up and scored his fourth goal against Leeds, but that was only half the story of the dramatic encounter at Elland Road.

Bukayo Saka continued his fine form to keep Arsenal top of the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Leeds, but the visitors were lucky to avoid victory as Patrick Bamford missed a second-half penalty.

Jesse Marsch’s side showed a fighting game against league-leading Arsenal in a match from which they could and should have emerged victorious in an incident-filled game. 

The final point came in the 90th minute when a first half goal from Bucayo Saka saw the North Londoners head home and continue their magnificent start to the campaign. 

Luis Sinistera created the first scoring chance. The winger burst forward from the central area and fired a powerful shot towards Aaron Ramsdale’s goal – the ball went close to the crossbar. That chance was followed by another for the Whites when Rodrigo blocked his shot in the penalty area. 

Soon after 20 minutes Ramsdale was forced into action, this time ducking under the ball to parry Pascal Strike’s shot following a Leeds corner. At the other end, during Arsenal’s brief respite, Gabriel Jesus came close to the back post and fired past it. 

Ten minutes before half-time, the league leaders took the lead. The goal was scored by Saca, who entered the penalty area and fired into the net, taking advantage of White’s free pass that gave him the opportunity.  

Another chance to level the scores came shortly before half time when Brendan Aaronson won the ball in midfield and passed it to Jack Harrison. The winger struck a header but shot over the crossbar.

Marsh made one substitution at half-time – Patrick Bamford came on for Rodrigo. Seconds after coming on, Bamford shot from outside the penalty area, but referee Chris Kavanagh decided the striker had fouled Gabriel in the penalty area and disallowed the goal. 

A few minutes later, Bamford again created havoc in the Arsenal defence. He caused William Saliba to make a mistake and burst towards goal, but Ramsdale was able to parry the shot from close range. 

With just over an hour remaining in the game, when the Whites had a significant advantage, they had a great chance to level the scores. Unnoticed, the referee awarded a penalty to Leeds after a VAR check for Saliba’s handball, for which the defender received a yellow card.

There was a delay before the penalty was awarded and Bamford held the ball awaiting the signal. However, when the penalty was awarded, the striker fired past the crossbar, allowing the Canaries to take the lead. 

Despite the penalty Leeds continued to hold the initiative and never stopped pressing. Bamford had another good chance when Harrison headed it towards goal but Ramsdale again prevented the striker from scoring. 

With 15 minutes to go Leeds had everything in their hands as the home side went forward time and time again to equalise. This time Arsenal’s number one deflected Aaronsson’s shot from the edge of the penalty area.  

At the end of the game another penalty was awarded against Leeds when Gabriel brought down a Bamford player. A penalty was awarded and a defender was sent off but both decisions were overturned by VAR. 

Despite some excellent play in the second half against the Premier League visitors, who constantly tried to equalize, no goals were scored and the Whites had to rue their missed chances at Elland Road. 

Full Time : Leeds United v Arsenal 0-1

Meslier, Koch, Cooper, Aaronson, Roca (Summerville), Harrison (Klich), Adams, Rodrigo (Bamford), Struijk, Sinisterra (Gelhardt), Kristensen. 

 Substitutes not used: Klaesson, Ayling, Firpo, Llorente, Greenwood.

 Substitutes not used: Turner, Soares, Lokonga, Nelson, Marquinhos. 

Scorers:

Bookings: 

Match Stats:

Possession

Total Shots

Shots on Target

Corners

Fouls

Attacks

Dangerous Attacks

Player of the Match: Aron Ramsdale (Arsenal)