Mikel Arteta also revealed that he warned Arsenal against complacency at half time, suggesting that Leeds will always “throw everything at you”.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made his return to the starting XI for Arsenal against Leeds and he made an impact after just 13 minutes.
The forward advanced and cut in from the left-hand side onto his right foot. His low shot found the bottom corner past Illan Meslier.
READ MORE: Never mind Leeds’ late flurry; Aubameyang and Arteta needed this
Arsenal looked to have been given a penalty in the 35th-minute, but the decision was overturned by VAR. Four minutes later, they did get a spot-kick as Meslier brought down Bukayo Saka in the area.
Aubameyang took it and he sent the ‘keeper the wrong way to get his and his side’s second.
On the brink of half time, Hector Bellerin made it three from a tight angle. Aubameyang completed his hat-trick just after the break.
It was Emile Smith Rowe who had it initially but his cross-cum-shot went to the back post to his attacking partner and he headed it in to secure his first Premier League hat-trick.
Leeds got two goals back in the second half through Pascal Struijk and Helder Costa. They also had a penalty appeal for a challenge on Patrick Bamford turned down.
The Gunners ran out winners in the end though as they leapfrog Leeds in the table to move up to tenth. Speaking post-match with Sky Sports, as cited by BBC Sport, Arteta said it was “great” for his side to score four goals:
“I’m very pleased with the result. I’m also very, very happy with the performance against a fantastic team that makes life so difficult for you. We handled the situations well.
“At half time I told them there’s a team that will never give up and throw everything at you. They made it hard. You have 45 minutes – every action you have to be on full gas. You have 15 minutes’ break then it’s another 45 minutes.”
“Scoring four goals was great. The amount of chances created and the type of goals we scored. The confidence it gives playing against a team that are constantly pressing.
On Odegaard: “To play in his league start against Leeds, to run the way he did, the way he was comfortable. He was great.”
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