EDDIE’S TWO EARLY GOALS GIVES GUNNERS VICTORY OVER AYLING LEEDS.
An Eddie Nketiah brace was enough for Arsenal to claim all three points against 10-man Leeds United in a comfortable 2-1 win at the Emirates Stadium, giving the North Londoners a huge boost in their pursuit of Champions League football.
While the hosts were dreaming of a return to the top table of European football, Leeds were in need of all three points to put some distance between them and Everton in 18th place.
Those survival aspirations took a big dent early on as Eddie Nketiah scored five minutes into the game. Illan Meslier took a heavy touch from a back pass and the Arsenal youngster charged down the keeper, prodding the ball into the net. It only took another five minutes for Nketiah to strike again and double the hosts lead. Cédric Soares passed down the left wing to Gabriel Martinelli, who used his quick footwork to get around the defenders, get to the by-line, and cut back to Nketiah, who scored his sixth league goal this season.
Things got worse for Jesse Marsch’s side, as Luke Ayling was originally booked for a dangerous challenge on Martinelli, but on VAR review, the decision was changed to a red card. Leeds faced the prospect of the next hour of football with just 10 men, but the Yorkshire-based side were able to keep the scoreline intact until HT.
Arsenal continued to control the second half, but still couldn’t find that decisive third goal to kill off any remaining Leeds resistance. That resistance sparked into life in the 66th minute, when Junior Firpo glanced a header from a corner to the back post, where an unmarked Diego Llorente fired the ball past Aaron Ramsdale to half the deficit with his side’s first shot of the game.
Arsenal eventually saw out the game and turn their eyes towards Thursday’s North London derby, knowing now that a win will secure their return to the Champions League for the first time since 2017. For Leeds, it now becomes a very daunting end to the season as they drop into the relegation zone with three games left to play.
