Job done: Arsenal did enough to make it seven wins in a row
(Picture: AFP via Getty Images)You need luck to be successful and Arsenal enjoyed more than their fair share of good fortunate in an eventful 1-0 win over Leeds.
This would surely have been a game Mikel Arteta’s side would have lost last season and another battling victory, sealed by Bukayo Saka’s first-half strike, was further evidence of Arsenal’s new steeliness and resolve. This table-topping side is made of sterner stuff now.
As much as anything else, though, the visitors benefitted from the bounce of the ball and, on another day Patrick Bamford alone would have scored three in the second half.
They say it is better to be lucky than good, and in-form sides often seem to find a way to win, as Arsenal did at Elland Road.
Saka’s goal and Bamford’s string of second-half misses, including from the penalty spot, were gifts from Jesse Marsch’s side, whose run without a win extended to six games despite being comfortably the more dangerous team throughout.
Arsenal, though, continued to look unflappable in dealing with another difficult away game, in very tricky circumstances after the match was suspended less than a minute in due to a power cut -- with the game not restarting until 14.40.
The outage left referee Chris Kavanagh unable to communicate with his assistants and knocked out the goal-line technology, leading to a halt in play.
The players tried to stay warm but eventually retreated to the dressing rooms, with confused supporters left in the dark over what was happening until the PA system confirmed the situation.
The teams eventually returned to the pitch after more than half-an-hour and the game restarted 40 minutes behind schedule, with Leeds the more aggressive and purposeful of the sides.
Saka’s goal, ten minutes from half-time, came against the run of play and after a crazy pass from Rodrigo, who hit a crossfield ball from the right towards the left-back spot. Saka easily won possession, exchanged passes with Martin Odegaard and finished into the roof of the net.
The goal dampened a spirited atmosphere but the crowd came alive again barely 30 seconds into the second-half. Bamford, a half-time substitute, turned the ball home from close range but the goal was ruled out for a push by the striker on Gabriel.
It was a little soft but probably the the right call.
Thereafter, Bamford and Aaron Ramsdale were the game’s most influential players. The goalkeeper twice saved one-on-ones from Bamford, who ran William Saliba ragged in the second half. In between Ramsdale’s saves, Bamford missed from the spot.
Saliba was penalised for a handball but the England forward rolled his penalty wide of the post, leaving Arsenal breathing a sigh of relief.
Brenden Aaronson also forced Ramsdale into a smart stop, and Tyler Adams saw an effort blocked from point blank range.
There was late, late drama when Kavanagh showed a red card to Gabriel and awarded Leeds a penalty for a coming together between Bamford and the defender. The referee took advice from his linesman who had evidently suggested that Gabriel kicked out at Bamford after they came together, but replays showed the Leeds No.9 had shoved the Brazilian to the ground first.
Gabriel was downgraded to a yellow card and there was even an element of fortune for Arsenal here, with Kavanagh clearly believing Gabriel had retaliated, which should have merited a sending off regardless of Bamford’s involvement. It was a day when Arsenal got the rub of the green but nonetheless showed their battling qualities.
