In what was a tale of two halves in Mikel Arteta's first cup game in charge, the Gunners scraped past Leeds United with the age old 'one nil to the Arsenal'.
It was an almost disaster start for the men in red and white as our visitors got it going far quicker and unleashed on Emi Martinez in goal, and but for the crossbar and several outstanding stands from our Argentine stopper, Leeds could and maybe should have been in front. Come half time, Arsenal mustered barely anything goalward whilst Leeds had attempted fifteen shots. It was a real dominating start that had everything, everything but a goal.
It took a Spanish rocket in shape of Mikel Arteta to get the Gunners going again at half time. He must have annihilated his players into shame after such a poor opening half and come the second, it was a very different story. Mesut Ozil, who must have touched the ball about nine times in the first forty-five, soon got on the ball and started to get it going. He was influential against Manchester United and looked at the same levels for bits of the second half last night. Alex Lacazette did everything but score in the second forty-five and the likes of Sokratis (at right back!), Granit Xhaka and Matteo Guendouzi really stepped it up a few levels, and ultimately Arsenal had too much for Leeds...just. A slick piece of build up play sore Reiss Nelson bundle one home from close range just ten minutes into the second half and that was to be it. One nil to the Arsenal - a phrase from yesteryear that we just love to hear.
Ratings:
Emi Martinez - 8
A real talent between the sticks and always hungry to impress. Thoroughly deserved the clean sheet and made one or two incredible saves to keep his side level in the first half.
Sokratis - 7
A much improved second half saw the big Greek really step it up and play as well as we've ever seen him in an Arsenal shirt. Dogged, determined and hardworking, he too deserved the clean sheet.
Rob Holding - 5
A nervy start and consistently sluggish on the ball, the Englishman looked a little rusty and clearly needs more minutes to rediscover his form of late 2018.
David Luiz - 6
Up and down again from the Brazilian but it was a strong and much needed finish. He dug in and worked hard to protect the clean sheet, and come the second half was much nearer the levels needed to play for Arsenal Football Club.
Sead Kolasinac - 6
Forever a worry defensively but growing in importance going forward, the Bosnian put a shift in and, like his colleagues, was much better after the half time break.
Matteo Guendouzi - 5
A very poor start made the young Frenchman look completely out of his depth was stifled by a better game-controlling second half.
Granit Xhaka - 5.5
Not as poor as his midfield partner in the first half but generally still a hilariously bad tackler. Good with the ball at his feet and eventually found his range in the second half.
Mesut Ozil - 6.5
A quiet first half of very little ball was trumped by a much better second period of creative play and defence-splitting passing.
Reiss Nelson - 7
The game's only goalscorer played fairly well throughout. He went at his man when he could and he joined in with almost every attacking move. Needs to invest in some SG boots though!
Nicolas Pepe - 6.5
The Ivorian carried his team forward with real pace at every opportunity but bar one or two speculative shots, there wasn't a lot that threatened the Leeds goal.
Alex Lacazette - 7
Everything but a goal from the forward who captained the side on the night. He linked up play consistently, put himself about and stuck at it, but just couldn't find the net and perhaps should have.
Gabriel Martinelli - 5
Ever the engine, dogged and tenacious, the young Brazilian worked excessively hard in the time he saw. Real nifty feet carved him an opportunity on goal that he could have maybe done better with.
Joe Willock - N/A
Bukayo Saka -N/A
@craigbennett10
It was an almost disaster start for the men in red and white as our visitors got it going far quicker and unleashed on Emi Martinez in goal, and but for the crossbar and several outstanding stands from our Argentine stopper, Leeds could and maybe should have been in front. Come half time, Arsenal mustered barely anything goalward whilst Leeds had attempted fifteen shots. It was a real dominating start that had everything, everything but a goal.
It took a Spanish rocket in shape of Mikel Arteta to get the Gunners going again at half time. He must have annihilated his players into shame after such a poor opening half and come the second, it was a very different story. Mesut Ozil, who must have touched the ball about nine times in the first forty-five, soon got on the ball and started to get it going. He was influential against Manchester United and looked at the same levels for bits of the second half last night. Alex Lacazette did everything but score in the second forty-five and the likes of Sokratis (at right back!), Granit Xhaka and Matteo Guendouzi really stepped it up a few levels, and ultimately Arsenal had too much for Leeds...just. A slick piece of build up play sore Reiss Nelson bundle one home from close range just ten minutes into the second half and that was to be it. One nil to the Arsenal - a phrase from yesteryear that we just love to hear.
Ratings:
Emi Martinez - 8
A real talent between the sticks and always hungry to impress. Thoroughly deserved the clean sheet and made one or two incredible saves to keep his side level in the first half.
Sokratis - 7
A much improved second half saw the big Greek really step it up and play as well as we've ever seen him in an Arsenal shirt. Dogged, determined and hardworking, he too deserved the clean sheet.
Rob Holding - 5
A nervy start and consistently sluggish on the ball, the Englishman looked a little rusty and clearly needs more minutes to rediscover his form of late 2018.
David Luiz - 6
Up and down again from the Brazilian but it was a strong and much needed finish. He dug in and worked hard to protect the clean sheet, and come the second half was much nearer the levels needed to play for Arsenal Football Club.
Sead Kolasinac - 6
Forever a worry defensively but growing in importance going forward, the Bosnian put a shift in and, like his colleagues, was much better after the half time break.
Matteo Guendouzi - 5
A very poor start made the young Frenchman look completely out of his depth was stifled by a better game-controlling second half.
Granit Xhaka - 5.5
Not as poor as his midfield partner in the first half but generally still a hilariously bad tackler. Good with the ball at his feet and eventually found his range in the second half.
Mesut Ozil - 6.5
A quiet first half of very little ball was trumped by a much better second period of creative play and defence-splitting passing.
Reiss Nelson - 7
The game's only goalscorer played fairly well throughout. He went at his man when he could and he joined in with almost every attacking move. Needs to invest in some SG boots though!
Nicolas Pepe - 6.5
The Ivorian carried his team forward with real pace at every opportunity but bar one or two speculative shots, there wasn't a lot that threatened the Leeds goal.
Alex Lacazette - 7
Everything but a goal from the forward who captained the side on the night. He linked up play consistently, put himself about and stuck at it, but just couldn't find the net and perhaps should have.
Gabriel Martinelli - 5
Ever the engine, dogged and tenacious, the young Brazilian worked excessively hard in the time he saw. Real nifty feet carved him an opportunity on goal that he could have maybe done better with.
Joe Willock - N/A
Bukayo Saka -N/A
@craigbennett10
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