With the walls closing in, Arsenal needed this bold and courageous reaction
Quiet moments at Elland Road are rare. If you can make them, they are certainly deserved. As expected, it was a raucous start as Arsenal’s mentality and credentials were reeling from a crowd renowned for doing everything in their power to get behind their team and in the heads of their opponents.
“You’re going to screw it up,” chanted the Leeds fans all around the pitch. That’s why it was so remarkable later in the game that Arsenal did what any ambitious team must do in critical moments, with searing pressure as has been the case in recent weeks.
Arsenal found the right mix of courage, commitment and concentration to take a lead that reduced Leeds’ volume. As all three points seemed assured, the rain began to pound its metal on the stadium roof and the atmosphere briefly softened to a dull chatter as Arsenal passed the ball around in search of more goals. This is out-of-the-books control.
This came from a gulf of class that Arsenal generated in two ways: by physically matching Leeds’ determined and spirited effort, and then by expressing a level of technique that saw them secure an emphatic victory.
Individually and collectively, this game screamed “reaction.” It was a basic requirement after three league matches in which seven points were dropped. Declan Rice spoke for the team when he explained how they tried to compartmentalize that frustration. “We’re all old enough and we’ve all played enough to realize we’ve had an incident in the last three games,” he said in an interview with Sky Sports after the match. “We knew we had to go out there and score three points.”
Declan Rice said the team knew they had to fight against Leeds after poor recent results (Carl Recine/Getty Images)
The reaction was felt all over the field.
Martin Zubimendi had been involved in two of Manchester United’s goals last weekend and his determination to redeem himself was evident in his joyous celebration. His header, which opened the scoring, also testifies to the intelligence of his movement and his reading of the game.
His goal was created thanks to a beautiful ball from Noni Madueke. After Bukayo Saka pulled up with a problem in the warm-up, Madueke was suddenly promoted to start a Premier League match for the eighth time this season.
In Wednesday’s 3-2 win over Kairat, Madueke hit a shot that was the subject of hilarity online, with all sorts of suggestions about how many different countries or monuments he could have aimed at. At Leeds, Madueke took on the role of chance creation from the right flank and by half-time two of his deliveries had helped take a 2-0 lead.
His corner baffled goalkeeper Karl Darlow, who hit it near the frame of the goal while the three players closest to him were all wearing white. Arsenal have threatened to score directly from corners this season, with Saka and Rice going close with precision balls which they drop just under the crossbar. Madueke moved closer again. His teammates praised him without a doubt, it was his spiritual goal.
After experiencing death by corner in the first half, Leeds faced a different proposition in the second as Mikel Arteta changed several attackers and some open, intelligent play reaped rewards. Most intriguingly, Martin Odegaard, the captain forced to accept a place on the bench, replaced the returning Kai Havertz and it played out as Arteta hoped – Havertz’s physical presence was valuable to counter some of the directness expected by Arsenal, and Odegaard was refreshed and released to come and have some fun later.
Horses for lessons, then, while Arsenal galloped away with them. Odegaard was involved in two goals. First, he sent off his replacement Gabriel Martinelli, and the Brazilian jumped a challenge, cut back and crossed beautifully for Viktor Gyokeres to stab him. Next, Odegaard assisted another of those play-finishers, Gabriel Jesus, whose dancing feet teased his marker before smashing the ball into the corner.
Overall, it was a delicious and effective remedy for a team that needed more from its offensive components.
To the credit of the Leeds crowd, the home support chanted in the rain to stay awake despite the scoreline being 0-4. A young boy coming out shouted: “Get in!” » It’s all a question of point of view. They know they have to overturn their results against Arsenal this season.
But for the visitors, in its own way, this match could mark the season. Needless to say, they would have felt the walls closing in if everything hadn’t gone well.
“We talk about noise,” Arteta said after the match, “but it was also a big noise, very positive. We always want to talk more about the other noises.
“The goal is to win every game. We’re playing incredible opponents, and that has to fuel your energy and your desire to win. We really wanted to show how much we wanted it.”
Arsenal had to show a different face after the disappointment and criticism. They could leave no doubt. They responded in every way.