Viktor Gyokeres scored his first Arsenal goals as the Gunners thrashed Leeds United 5-0 to go top of the Premier League table on Saturday.
But the mood at the Emirates was soured after both Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka limped off with injury, with the pair now a doubt for next week’s huge clash at Liverpool.
There were jubilant scenes ahead of kick-off in north London as Eberechi Eze was unveiled to the crowd after completing his £67.5million transfer from Crystal Palace.
And after a sluggish start, the attacking midfielder was treated to a fantastic display by his new teammates, with Jurrien Timber heading in the opener from a corner in the 34th minute.
Odegaard was withdrawn soon after, after appearing to injure his shoulder in an earlier challenge, adding to Mikel Arteta’s woes with Kai Havertz, Ben White and Christian Norgaard all in the treatment room.
Timber then set up Saka to double Arsenal’s lead just before half-time, before summer signing Gyokeres found the back of the net with a classy goal soon after the restart.
But as the fans were still cheering, Saka pulled up with a suspected hamstring injury and there was clear concern on the face of the England international and Arteta as he limped off the pitch.
Timber restored the smiles with his second goal, again from a corner situation as Leeds sank without a trace, their only chance of the game coming early in the first-half as Raya saved Struijk’s bullet header.
With the three points in the bag, Arteta sent on Cristhian Mosquera and Max Dowman for their debuts, the latter becoming the second-youngster player in Premier League history, aged 15 years and 234 days.
The teenager lit up the pitch in his brief cameo and in injury-time won a penalty, which Gyokeres powered in to complete the five-star performance,
That late penalty sends Arsenal top of the Premier League on goal difference, one better than arch-rivals Tottenham who stunned Manchester City 2-0 in Saturday’s early kick-off.
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Arsenal top of the Premier League
That fifth goal means Arsenal end the day top of the Premier League table on goal difference, +6 to Spurs’ +5.
Nottingham Forest or Liverpool could yet overtake them when they play later this weekend.
Full-time! Arsenal 5-0 Leeds
A five star performance from Arsenal sends them top of the Premier League!
Eze announced, Gyokeres gets his first Gunners goals and Dowman makes his debut. A near-perfect day at the office.
Near-perfect because Odegaard and Saka did come off injured…
GOAL! Arsenal 5-0 Leeds (Gyokeres, pen)
It’s Gyokeres… it’s five!
The Swede sends Perri the wrong way and powers in the penalty.
90+4 mins: Arsenal 4-0 Leeds
Maybe! Arsenal have a penalty!
Dowman goes down in the box and the referee instantly points to the spot.
But with no Saka or Odegaard, who will take it?
90 mins: Arsenal 4-0 Leeds
Five minutes of added time. Time for a fifth?
89 mins: Arsenal 4-0 Leeds
Chance for five missed as Rice dribbles into the box and he has an opening to shoot.
Instead he keeps going, desperate to tee up Dowman. The debutant is blocked however so he passes to Nwaneri who in turn get the ball nicked off him.
82 mins: Arsenal 4-0 Leeds
Dowman may be raw but he’s electric. He has the better of Gudmundsson and the left-back has to bring the teenager down.
He’s booked for his protests for good measure.
The subsequent free-kick is cleared to Dowman on the edge of the box and he has a pop with a powerful half-volley but it spins wide!
79 mins: Arsenal 4-0 Leeds
A rare opportunity for Leeds as they work the ball into the box. It gets to Bogle but before he can get a shot a way the chance is cleared.
Just not their day today.
75 mins: Arsenal 4-0 Leeds
Nice burst into the box by Dowman but he goes down under good pressure from a Leeds defender.
Moments later, he gets the ball on the right-flank and cuts inside. The crowd urges him to shoot and he obliges… row Z.
Dowman makes debut
Arteta decides to use all three remaining subs and one of them gets a huge roar from the crowd.
Max Dowman, aged 15 years and 234 days, is on for his debut, the second-youngest player in Premier League history behind Nwaneri.
Mosquera, also on for his debut, and Lewis-Skelly come on.
Calafiori, Madueke and Timber make way. No hat-trick for the defender.
63 mins: Arsenal 4-0 Leeds
Arsenal are purring. Madueke sends in a teasing cross but Trossard and Gyokeres can’t quite get on it and Leeds clear.
As it stands, the Gunners are top of the Premier League, level on points and goal difference with Tottenham…
59 mins: Arsenal 4-0 Leeds
Another Rice corner, another Timber goal!
Not quite as clean as the first as Timber’s header is blocked but Saliba keeps it alive for the Dutch defender to stab home the fourth goal of the game.
There is a VAR check for handball but replays show the ball hit Saliba’s chest.
After watching Saka hobble off, that has lifted the mood in the stadium. And Timber is on a hat-trick now!
GOAL! Arsenal 4-0 Leeds (Timber)
Saka subbed off with injury
Uh oh, this doesn’t look good.
Saka is down on the grass and doesn’t look happy. He’s speaking to the medical team and he can’t continue.
He limps off very slowly and Trossard takes his place.
51 mins: Arsenal 3-0 Leeds
A long ball finds Gyokeres who surges down the left-flank. The Swede cuts inside and fends off multiple defenders before finding the back of the net from close range.
Arsenal have surely won this. The question is how many more will they score?
GOAL! Arsenal 3-0 Leeds (Gyokeres)
What a way to score your first goal for your new club!
Second-half kick-off! Arsenal 2-0 Leeds
We’re back underway at the Emirates.
All smiles from Saka who has taken the captain’s armband and delivers the team talk following Odegaard’s withdrawal.
Timber on top
Two shots on target, two goals for Arsenal. Not very creative or just clinical? You decide.
Timber has a goal, an assist and is on the way to keeping a clean sheet. Congrats if you have him in your Fantasy Football team.
Half-time! Arsenal 2-0 Leeds
Great pressure from the Gunners as Rice wins the ball back high up the pitch and it falls to Zubimendi with plenty of teammates to pick out.
He moves it quickly to Timber on the right, who plays an inch perfect pass to Saka who bursts into the box and fires past Perri from a tight angle.
The ref blows for half-time and Arsenal have a two goal lead.
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