Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori shined and Viktor Gyokeres scored his first Premier League goals but Arsenal is pondering injuries to Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard after a 5-0 blowout of Leeds at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Saka was one of two first-half goal scorers but left the game after 53 minutes, just a quarter-hour after taking the arm band from injured Martin Odegaard. Arteta expressed appreciation for the team’s depth and said now’s the time to wait and see what the doctors find from examining those stars.
MORE — Arteta reaction to injuries, big win | Arsenal v Leeds full match replay
Timber had two goals and an assist and Calafiori set up two goals in the win, which boosts Arsenal over Spurs atop the Premier League table on goal differential.
Max Dowman made history as the second-youngest player in Premier League, and won a stoppage-time penalty that Gyokeres buried to complete the scoring in North London.
Leeds find the loss column after surprising Evrton in Week 1.
Arsenal’s depth test comes early
The Gunners will hope that neither Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, nor Bukayo Saka will miss significant time, especially with Liverpool the next match on the docket, but they didn’t need to wait for the fixture list to get thicker before relying on their newly-acquired depth to reinforce their title run. Eberechi Eze may’ve been a quick reaction to Tottenham Hotspur looking to buy a lifelong Arsenal fan who used to be a part of their academy, but he’s now potentially going to immediately ease Odegaard’s burden by moving into attacking midfield so the club captain can properly heal for this long season with competition on four fronts. And Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli, Ethan Nwaneri, and young Max Dowman will all get early chances to assert their place in the pecking order. Arteta said after the game that their transfer work was designed to ease the burden on their top dogs. That’s good, but it’s also given him a chance to get everyone familiar with the intensity of his matchday expectations well before those Champions League/Premier League weeks.
“Well you just have to see the evolution and the way the team played the number of minutes in 2023-24,” Arteta said. Last year it was different with the amount of injuries, and the start has not been good in that sense but we have more this time.”
What’s next?
Leeds have a Yorkshire derby at Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup on Tuesday, then host Newcastle United in the Premier League at 12:30pm ET Saturday.
Arsenal now have a week to recover for a huge Sunday, August 31 trip to Liverpool for an 11:30am kickoff in Week 3 of the Premier League.
How to watch Arsenal vs Leeds live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 12:30pm ET Saturday (August 23)
Venue: Emirates Stadium — London
TV Channel: NBC
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com & Stream live on Peacock
Arsenal vs Leeds final score: 5-0
Jurrien Timber 34', 57', Bukayo Saka 45+2', Viktor Gyokeres 48', 90+5'
Arsenal vs Leeds live updates — by Nick Mendola
Jurrien Timber reaction to brace, Max Dowman, more
How’d it feel to score twice? “Special day, special day. A nice first home game of the season. We felt the energy of the crowd. We have to enjoy this day.”
When was your last brace? “I don’t think I’ve done that, definitely not scoring twice and assisting as well. God is good. Beautiful day and family is here as well. My brother is here, my girlfriend is here.”
How good is 15-year-old Max Dowman? “Everyone can see the potential he has, already now playing with grown men like this. And not just him. It’s a joy to watch. Hopefully he’s going to have some amazing years with us.”
Did you send a message with this win? “A message to ourselves. We have to look at the good things but also keep perspective on the things that didn’t go well and next week we have an amazing game at Anfield.”
‘Viktor Gyokeres penalty goal — Arsenal 5-0 Leeds
The Swede steps to the spot and buries his chance.
Dowman wins penalty
Thr 15-year-old really looks the part, and he’s dribbled into the 18 and won a penalty off Anton Stach.
ILeeds substitutions include USMNT man
Brenden Aaronson and Noah Okafor enter the game for Daniel James and Wilfried Gnonto.
Three Arsenal subs
Fifteen-year-old Max Dowman becomes the second-youngest Arsenal player to hit the pitch in a Premier League game, and he’s joined in the game by Cristhian Mosquera and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Coming off the pitch are Noni Madueke, Jurrien Timber, and Riccardo Calafiori in the 65th minute.
Jurrien Timber goal — Arsenal 4-0 Leeds
It’s another corner kick, albeit a righteous scrum and not a direct connection.
Calafiori’s desperation stab at a loose ball meets the outstretched attempt of Timber and makes its way over the line.
Viktor Gyokeres goal — Arsenal 3-0 Leeds
There it is.
Riccardo Calafiori chops a pass over the top of Leeds’ back line and Viktor Gyokeres is on the case.
He dribbles Jayden Bogle and then outmaneuvers Pascal Struijk before spinning a hard shot through traffic and to the near post of Perri.
Halftime — Arsenal 2-0 Leeds United
All Arsenal, and it could’ve been worse for Daniel Farke’s visitors.
But the Gunners will be curious as to the status of Martin Odegaard after he left with an apparent right shoulder injury.
Shots are 7-3 for the hosts, who’ve held 64% of the ball.
Bukayo Saka goal — Arsenal 2-0 Leeds
Normal service has resumed for Bukayo Saka.
The English winger takes a through ball from Timber and smashes a right-footed effort over the flailing right shoulder of Lucas Perri.
The play featured so much, as Nwaneri had given the ball away only to see Martin Zubimendi intercept Leeds’ outlet pass and immediately spot Timber.
Odegaard off
Ethan Nwaneri will replace Odegaard before halftime, and this will be an injury to monitor as Gunners fans hope it’s a mere precaution.
Arsenal are in total control but it’s just 1-0.
Jurrien Timber goal — Arsenal 1-0 Leeds
It’s a corner kick, and Declan Rice’s service swirls off Timber and then perhaps his mark to open the scoring.
Odegaard gets treatment
The Norwegian is fouled onto his right shoulder again, and this time he’ll get some treatment from the trainers.
The captain will come back onto the pitch again.
Rushed chance by Viktor Gyokeres
Leeds are poor in playing the ball out of the back, and Martin Zubimendi forces a turnover on the edge of the 18.
Viktor Gyokeres doesn’t think he has time for anything but a rushed swipe at the ball — he might’ve had time for a touch! — and it’s not a good one.
Martin Odegaard slow to get up
Odegaard wins a free kick in the 14th minute but is very slow to rise, favoring his right shoulder.
Something to watch moving forward.
The Gunners again can’t do anything with a free kick.
All Arsenal early
The Gunners have attacked on the rush, off crosses, and via possession, and as expected look the better team.
Martin Odegaard drills a low shot wide of the near post with his left foot in the eighth minute.
Feels a matter of time, to be honest, and now Jayden Bogle’s taken a yellow card while giving the Gunners a free kick outside the 18.
Eberechi Eze officially a Gunner
Both Crystal Palace, Arsenal, and now the Emirates Stadium have acknowledged the move of Eberechi Eze back to his childhood club.
Arsenal lineup
Raya, Timber, Saliba, Magalhaes, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Madueke, Gyokeres
Leeds United lineup
Perri, Bogle, Gudmundsson, Struijk, Rodon, Gruev, Stach, Tanaka, James, Gnonto, Piroe
Arsenal vs Leeds preview — by Joe Prince-Wright
Mikel Arteta’s side didn’t really look like title favorites as they labored to a 1-0 win at Manchester United on the opening weekend. But they found a way to win and it’s great to have that knack of grinding out results even when you’re not at your free-flowing best. After a summer of big spending, which is set to continue with Eberechi Eze arriving, Arsenal look the most likely to push Liverpool all the way for the title.
Leeds got off to a great start back in the Premier League as the new boys beat Everton 1-0 at a raucous Elland Road on the opening weekend. Daniel Farke’s side have added experience and quality in the transfer window and they look a lot stronger than the last time they were in the top-flight in the 2022-23 season. This game is a ‘free hit’ for Leeds and if they can stay solid at the back, they have plenty of dangerous players who can hurt Arsenal on the counter.
Arsenal team news, focus
Gabriel and William Saliba were immense at center back against Man United and so was David Raya in goal. Jurrien Timber and Myles Lewis-Skelly could come in for Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori at full back as Arteta has the option to keep all four full backs fresh early in the season. In midfield the trio of Zubimendi, Rice, and Odegaard are the starters, while Noni Madueke may start on the left wing. Viktor Gyokeres had a debut to forget last weekend but this feels like a game where he will get plenty of chances to prove his aerial prowess and finishing ability.
OUT: Christian Norgaard (undislosed), Kai Havertz (knee - MORE), Gabriel Jesus (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Ben White (undisclosed)
Leeds team news, focus
Farke will set Leeds up to be tough to break down and launch counters with the searing pace of Dan James and Wilfried Gnonto. Adding Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Noah Okafor in attack has significantly strengthened Leeds’ options and if they can keep things tight in defense, you’d back them to stay up this season.
OUT: Ethan Ampadu (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Sebastiaan Bornauw (calf), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (fitness)
Arsenal vs Leeds prediction
The Gunners probably won’t be at their best as they click through the gears, but they’ll get the job done with minimum fuss. Arsenal 2-0 Leeds.
