Arsenal re-established their eight-point lead at the top of the table after they beat Leeds 4-1 today at the Emirates.
Arsenal came into the game as massive favourites but it was Leeds who were the better of the sides for the first half-hour, with Crysensio Summerville and Jack Harrison forcing Gunners ‘keeper Aaron Ramsdale into decent saves.
On 35 minutes Arsenal would take the lead though, Luke Ayling taking down Gabriel Jesus in the penalty area after the Leeds defender had been bamboozled by some brilliant footwork by the Brazilian attacker. Jesus duly stepped up and calmly slotted the penalty straight down the middle and past the despairing Illan Meslier.
Two minutes after the break and the home side made it two, defender Ben White sneaking in at the back stick to hammer a Gabriel Martinelli cross in off the crossbar.
On 55 minutes Jesus scored the game-killing goal with a left-footed finish from a Leandro Trossard cut back from eight yards out.
GABRIEL JESUS SCORES HIS FIRST GOAL SINCE HIS INJURY!
It’s his first since October 🙌 pic.twitter.com/HNO8OSrhif
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 1, 2023
Leeds would get a consolation goal late on when Rasmus Kristensen side-footed home from the edge of the area before Granit Xhaka finished the scoring with a brilliant header from a pinpoint Martin Odeegard delivery.
Speaking afterwards Arsenal boss Arteta hailed his side’s consistency, although he admitted it had been a tougher game than the scoreline suggests.
”I’m very happy. We had quite a few things going on in the last few days, but the team responded very well to all of them,” Arteta told Sky Sports.
“It was a tricky game and a tricky opponent, but overall I think we deserved to win the game. They played with a lot of organisation and desire. We had a couple of moments when we lost the ball in dangerous areas.
“Everybody has to contribute and today was a good example, with Granit scoring the [fourth] goal.
“We’ve been really consistent throughout the season. The most important thing is tomorrow, and doing things better the next day than we have today.
“We can’t control [what Manchester City do]. We need to focus on what we can control and play as well as we can to keep winning games.”
