Leeds United 0 Arsenal 4. After the 5-0 drubbing at the beginning of the season, there was a lot that we wanted to change in this match. Oh, how we deceived ourselves. It’s the hope that kills us.
After Arsenal were beaten by Manchester United, we hoped this was a sign that Arsenal were having their post-Christmas wobble. With Leeds’ home record a source of satisfaction it was also hoped that our physical approach to winning with our 3-5-2 formation would rattle Arsenal. Instead, it appears we have learned nothing.
Leeds United were flattered by the 4-0 scoreline. By the end of the match, Arsenal were turning up the heat with balls flying past the goal line, and Darlow was forced to make a fine save. And Leeds? One lame shot on goal all match. Whilst the Arsenal defenders were usually first to the ball in their penalty box. But Leeds were lucky that the Arsenal headers missed their goal.
The first half was dire for Leeds. The 3-5-2 didn’t work with Arsenal, who were superlative in finding space. Madueke was continuously given the ball to chase into the corner and win penalty after penalty. And that was where Leeds’ downfall occurred – with nothing learned from back in August.
The Arsenal set-piece corner is a game-changer in the championship. One corner went high up and still found an Arsenal player behind the back post. Another came in to the front post, and Leeds did Arsenal’s job for them by scoring themselves – Calvert-Lewin got in the way of Darlow, who failed to shout for the ball – not an Arsenal player was near as the ball fumbled into our net. And so it went on, with Arsenal players rushing onto the goal line as the corner ball dropped by the goal line – a melee that Leeds still can’t manage.
In the second half, Leeds came out and had spells of control that included one tame shot on target. The two half-time subs and that extra edge saw Leeds win the ball and earn possession. Okafor gave Leeds more penetration on the wing. But that momentum was soon neutered by Arsenal subs.
It was frightening to watch the subs come off the Arsenal bench – Martinelli and Odergaard. With a squad worth £ 1 billion, Arsenal were able to up the ante on Leeds, which led to two more goals. Not only that, but they nullified Leeds’ own subs – Buonanotte and Gnonto, who hardly saw the ball.
Let’s not take anything away from the fine performance by the whole Arsenal team. This was probably the best team we have played this season.
The fans never gave up on Leeds. Nonetheless, Arsenal were rarely broken through. Ampadu tried to build attacks with Stach, and Aaronsson tried to attack, but usually found themselves surrounded. Leeds were too often dispossessed for being caught on the ball. Madueke raced past Stuijk too many times. Bogle, on the right, ran out of ideas too often. Rather than play out from the back, Darlow kicked the ball long to Calvert Lewin, but Arsenal pushed hard to stop him from holding the ball.
It was as if Leeds had learned nothing from their drubbing away at Arsenal at the beginning of the season. Or was Arsenal simply a different league to Leeds. So much for Elland Road as their fortress was breached.
Man of the match: Ampadu, who tried to rally the players.
