London, Aug 24: Arsenal stormed to a resounding 5-0 victory over Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium, handing the visitors their first defeat of the new Premier League season.
Daniel Farke was forced into one change from the side that defeated Everton on the opening weekend, with Ilia Gruev replacing the injured Ethan Ampadu.
New arrival Noah Okafor had to settle for a place on the bench.
The Gunners dominated early exchanges, dictating possession and probing around the Leeds backline. Captain Martin Ødegaard fired the first warning, dragging a low effort just wide, while Viktor Gyökeres also threatened but failed to find the target after being played through.
Leeds, however, nearly stunned the hosts on 20 minutes when Pascal Struijk met Anton Stach’s free-kick with a powerful header, forcing David Raya into an outstanding save.
That scare seemed to spark Arsenal into life. On 32 minutes, Jurriën Timber rose highest to glance Declan Rice’s set-piece into the far corner and give Mikel Arteta’s men the lead.
Just before half-time, Bukayo Saka doubled the advantage with a trademark burst down the right and a thumping finish that left Lucas Perri helpless.
Any hopes of a Leeds comeback were crushed shortly after the restart as Gyökeres slotted in his first Arsenal goal with a tidy finish into the bottom corner.
Timber added his second of the game soon after, with VAR confirming the defender’s header had stood.
Leeds made a flurry of substitutions in response, handing Okafor his debut alongside Brenden Aaronson, but the visitors continued to struggle against Arsenal’s relentless pressure. The evening ended in further disappointment for Farke’s men when Gyökeres converted from the penalty spot late on to complete a 5-0 rout.
Despite the heavy defeat, the travelling Leeds supporters sang until the final whistle, backing their side as they prepare to host Newcastle United next weekend.
For Arsenal, the result was a statement of intent — a ruthless display that underlined their ambition to mount a serious title challenge this season.The emphatic win maintained Arsenal’s perfect start. (Agencies)
