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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.
