Arsenal enjoyed a prodigious evening at the Emirates in their first home tie of the new Premier League campaign as they trounced visiting Leeds 5-0 on Saturday evening.
The hosts wasted little time getting ahead as they so often did last season, via an intelligent set piece, with Jurrien Timber the name on the scoresheet after just over the half-an-hour mark.
Timber added a second nearly 30 minutes later, with open-play goals from Viktor Gyokeres and Bukayo Saka putting the hosts 4-0 ahead heading into injury time.
The Gunners nabbed their final effort via a cynical penalty shout courtesy of teenager talent Max Dowman, with Gyokeres scoring his second since his blockbuster move earlier this summer from the spot.
But who shone and who struggled during the primetime fixture?
Here, Daily Mail Sport’s ISAAN KHAN runs the rule over both Arsenal and Leeds’ stars as the visitors were handed a wake-up call upon re-entry to the Premier League this season.
Viktor Gyokeres scored his first Premier League goal against Leeds during Arsenal’s home tie
Daniel Farke & Co were handed a rude awakening at the Emirates after victory last weekend
ARSENAL (4-3-3)
DAVID RAYA: 6.5
Made a good save off Pascal Struijk’s corner. Otherwise, wasn’t particularly required.
JURRIEN TIMBER: 8.5
Scored the Arsenal opener with an energetic leap to convert Declan Rice’s corner, before scoring another from a Rice set-piece in second half. Then his pass played through Bukayo Saka to score. Man of the match display.
WILLIAM SALIBA: 7
Stayed in position and kept alert for the Leeds counter-attacks.
GABRIEL: 7
The Brazilian paired well with Saliba as usual. A game of awareness with Arsenal enjoying much of the possession.
Jurrien Timber was the hero of the hour with his brace against the newly promoted outfit
William Saliba was in trademark impressive form for his side’s first outing at the Emirates
RICCARDO CALAFIORI: 7
Nice aerial pass to Viktor Gyokeres on left flank helped the striker get off the mark. Looked threatening on the ball.
MARTIN ODEGAARD: 6.5
Dragged an early shot just wide of near post. Substituted off on 39 minutes with an injury.
MARTIN ZUBIMENDI: 7
Picked pockets across the pitch. Harried the opposition which put them under further pressure.
DECLAN RICE: 8
His two corners for Timber’s goals were spot on. Kept trying to advance play from midfield.
Declan Rice showed again how lethal Arsenal can be from set pieces as he set up two corners
But Arsenal will face a worrying wait to confirm Martin Odegaaard’s fitness after his early substitution
BUKAYO SAKA: 7
Struggled to make in-roads early on before unleashing himself as the game went on. Nice right-footed finish with power in the first half. But there will be concern after the winger hobbled off on 53 minutes with an apparent injury.
VIKTOR GYOKERES: 7.5
His mis-kick in front of goal on 16 minutes left Mikel Arteta with his head in hands. But made up for that with a second-half goal, picking up the ball from the left flank to cut in and score. Scored penalty in injury time.
NONI MADUEKE: 6.5
His end product could have been better but to the winger’s credit, he was very direct in his play.
Substitutes –
ETHAN NWANERI: 6.5
Nice effort on 55 minutes, turning outside the ball to curl just wide of a post.
MAX DOWMAN: 7.5
Looked very sharp on the ball. Put Leeds backline under much pressure. Had a couple of strikes go high or wide.
Max Dowman was a bright introduction and drew the foul that won Arsenal their last penalty
LEANDRO TROSSARD: 6.5
MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY: 6.5
CRISTHIAN MOSQUERA: 6.5
Manager –
MIKEL ARTETA: 7.5
LEEDS UNITED (4-3-3)
LUCAS PERRI: 5
Poor on Arsenal’s first two goals, particularly Saka’s strike where he lamely stuck a hand out.
JAYDEN BOGLE: 6
Put a shift in, even when the game was fully out of Leeds’ grasp. Hassled Gyokeres for much of the game.
Lucas Perri was constantly under siege and did not do enough to keep out Arsenal’s first two
But Jayden Bogle worked hard even when the game was out of reach on Leeds’ trip south
JOE RODON: 5.5
Caught out of position a few times. Was always going to be a difficult proposition in facing up this Arsenal frontline.
PASCAL STRUIJK: 5.5
Had a good header saved by Raya, which was the best chance for Leeds.
GABRIEL GUDMUNDSSON: 6
Was largely good in marshalling out Saka — but the one time he switched off, Saka made him pay.
AO TANAKA: 5.5
Better than Gruev but nevertheless found himself chasing the game.
Ao Tanaka often found himself chasing the game on an afternoon to forget for the visitors
ILIA GRUEV: 5
Was overran in the middle and bypassed very easily by the opposition midfield.
ANTON STACH: 5.5
Struggled with the pace in general. Did help in getting play forward on occasion.
DANIEL JAMES: 6
Leeds’ main outlet in getting out on the break. Ran with conviction but a general slog.
JOEL PIROE: 5
Non-existent. Barely touched the ball and was substituted in second half.
WILFRIED GNONTO: 5.5
Good tracking back and won the ball back a couple of times. Would arguably have been better suited as a false nine.
Wilfried Gnonto was arguably ill-suited to the position Farke played him in on Saturday evening
Substitutes:
SEAN LONGSTAFF: 6
LUKAS NMECHA: 6
BRENDEN AARONSON: 6
NOAH OKAFOR: 5.5
Manager-
DANIEL FARKE: 5.5
Referee-
JARRED GILLETT: 6
