Key stats
- Viktor Gyokeres is just the second player to net 2+ goals on his home Premier League debut for Arsenal after Gabriel Jesus against Leicester in 2022
- Max Dowman (15y 235d) is just the third player to appear in a Premier League game before turning 16 years old after teammate Ethan Nwaneri (15y 181d) and Jeremy Monga (15y 271d)
- Leeds have lost 37 of their 38 away Premier League matches when trailing by 2+ goals at half-time, with the only exception a 3-2 win against Wolves in March 2022
Highlights
Analysis
Jurrien Timber scored two and assisted a third in a man of the match performance for Arsenal - he also picked up a perfect 10 Flashscore rating.
New signing Viktor Gyokeres will be delighted with his two-goal haul on his home debut for Arsenal.
Arsenal were dominant from the get-go while putting Leeds to the sword.
Match report
The opening chance fell to Martin Ødegaard - who was subbed off injured later in the first half - as the skipper struck just wide from the edge of the area.
Viktor Gyökeres was then given an opportunity to open his Arsenal account, but he dragged wide with more time in the box than he perhaps thought. Leeds caused a scare from a corner as Pascal Struijk’s header was pushed over well by David Raya.
However, the Gunners found the breakthrough with their own corner, as Declan Rice swung in for Jurriën Timber to brilliantly head into the far corner.
After also doing so against Manchester United last weekend, it is now the 32nd goal Arsenal have scored from a corner since 2023/24 - by far the most in the top flight.
Timber then turned provider to double the hosts’ lead just before HT, as he fed Bukayo Saka and the winger struck superbly first-time into the net with his weaker right foot.
Arsenal found a third almost immediately in the second half as Riccardo Calafiori fed Gyökeres through the channel, and the Swede cut into the box before striking into the near post for his first Gunners goal.
However, that joy was short-lived as Saka went off injured moments later, but Arsenal got a fourth through yet another corner as Timber poked home again after a scramble in the box.
The hosts could then afford to give 15-year-old Max Dowman his league debut as he came on, and he looked lively as he won a penalty in stoppage time. Gyökeres stepped up and struck into the bottom corner for his brace.
Nonetheless, it was a comfortable victory as Arsenal shot up to the top of the table in its early stage, matching a Premier League record of 43 straight home games unbeaten against newly-promoted sides. Meanwhile, Leeds’ seven-match winning run comes to an end.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Jurriën Timber (Arsenal)
Post-match comments
Leeds boss Daniel Farke to Sky Sports: "Of course you wish to have Arsenal after a Champions League game or something, not their first home game of the season and on the back of a big win away at Manchester United.
"All of their new signings were paraded before the game, the stadium was buzzing and they are on it. The first 10-15 minutes we had to suffer and then I think we came back into the game.
"It was annoying to concede out of a set piece. We underestimated their counter press a little bit and they scored out for a difficult angle for 2-0. Second half five shots on target, five goals. It is difficult when they are so effective. Long story short they were the better side and deserved to win this game."
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to Sky Sports: "Exactly how we wanted to start the first game at home in the league. Start to create that confidence and that domination at home. The atmosphere was electric from the beginning.
"Many highlights: Viktor (Gyokeres) scoring his first two goals, Jurrien (Timber) after a long-term injury, scoring two goals, Cristhian's (Mosquera) debut for the club and then, of course, one of the highlights of the day, the debut of Max (Dowman) at 15 and then the impact he had on the game as well.
"A super positive afternoon except the two injuries we picked up with Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka."