Izuchukwu Okosi
Arsenal cruised to a 4-1 win over an injury-hit Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday, the only Premier League game to go ahead amid multiple postponements due to Covid-19 cases in most clubs.
An early brace from striker Gabriel Martinelli, as well as goals from Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe helped Mikel Arteta’s side to a third-consecutive league win that keeps them in fourth place.
The Brazilian ensured that the continued absence of club skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, suspended for disciplinary reasons recently, did not adversely affect Mikel Arteta’s bid for a top-four finish.
Bukayo Saka struck just before half-time, making it 3-0 for the Gunners, wrapping up three important points and sparking an angry reaction from home fans.
He drove into the area, with three defenders unable to dispossess him and, after Leeds failed to clear, Alexandre Lacazette took the ball off Mateusz Klich, allowing Saka to score from a deflected shot.
That was the cue for Arsenal players to celebrate, provocatively, in the corner near Leeds supporters – as they had done for their previous two goals – sparking an angry reaction.
Sections of Leeds fans also chanted “You let your country down” at Saka, who missed a penalty in England summer Euro Final defeat.
But Marcelo Bielsa’s side improved markedly after the break and reduced the deficit through Raphinha’s penalty before Arsenal’s substitute Emile Smith Rowe’s late effort snuffed out any faint hopes of a fightback.
Leeds, in the middle of a daunting run of fixtures and hammered 7-0 in a club-record Premier League defeat in midweek, were without nine senior players through injury and suspension
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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