Gabriel Martinelli double helps sink Leeds to continue Arsenal’s upturn

Gabriel Martinelli double helps sink Leeds to continue Arsenal’s upturn

The Premier League show staggers on and in a devastated schedule Arsenal stole it to strengthen their hold on fourth place. They made mincemeat of a diminished and thoroughly disorientated Leeds during the first half, making the game safe with two goals from Gabriel Martinelli and another from Bukayo Saka before easing off when a cricket score seemed on.

Raphinha’s penalty salvaged some respectability for the home side but Emile Smith Rowe restored the margin and another heavy defeat may not be the only ill consequence for Leeds. They could face an investigation after an apparent allegation of racist abuse to the Arsenal bench from within their support shortly before half-time.

Leeds will wish this game had completed the set of Covid-enforced postponements. These were the last two teams standing but that was a generous description of the hosts’ demeanour. They had escaped any wave of Covid-19 but were still down to the bare bones: nine first-teamers were absent through injury or suspension, including five of an already weakened squad that lost 7-0 at Manchester City. 
A substitutes’ bench almost empty of top-flight experience had an average age of 18 years and eight months; Leeds might have been a wounded beast, but they had a set of teeth missing too.

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