Key events
Half-time entertainment. Crystal Palace bid farewell to their FA Cup final hero.
HALF TIME: Arsenal 2-0 Leeds United
Arsenal have had two attempts on target. Two goals. The sort of clinical behaviour that wins titles.
45 min +3: That’ll have cheered Mikel Arteta’s mood. Saka sprinkling some necessary stardust on an otherwise middling performance.
GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Leeds United (Saka 45+1)
Out of nowhere, an absolute belter! Rice steals the ball off Gruev, 30 yards from the Leeds goal, and feeds Timber, who slips Saka into the box down the inside-right. Saka’s got Gyokeres in the middle, waiting for a tap-in, but instead goes for goal himself, roofing a fierce shot across Perri from a tight angle! The keeper, ostensibly covering his near post, had no chance, such was the ferocity of the shot. Wow!
45 min: There will be three additional first-half minutes.
43 min: Arsenal may be leading, but their manager isn’t happy. He’s throwing a lot of semaphore shapes in his technical area, and telling his players what’s what.
41 min: Nope, and when the ball’s hoofed clear, Madueke gets the better of Stach in a footrace down the inside-left channel before hammering a shot goalwards. Perri parries, then the whistle goes for a generous free kick to Leeds, Madueke having gently put a hand on his opponent’s shoulder. Stach got away with some timid play there.
40 min: Bogle barges his way down the right flank. He has his foot trodden on by Calafiori, who is fortunate not to go into the book. But it’s a free kick, and a chance for Leeds to line up on the edge of the Arsenal box. Can they hoist the hosts by their own set-piece petard?
38 min: Odegaard can’t continue. He makes way for Nwaneri and trudges off looking glum.
37 min: Madueke crosses from the left. Rodon half clears. Zubimendi meets the dropping ball and volleys it towards Holloway Road.
36 min: That goal came at a good time for Arsenal, with their fans getting a little agitated as the team ran out of ideas in open play. Now they’re in full voice: 1-0 to the Arsenal, as the old classic goes.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Leeds United (Timber 34)
Rice sends a fierce in-swinger into a crowded six-yard box. Timber meets it, glancing the ball across Perri and into the right-hand side of the net. Simple as that! It’s not breaking news, but they’re damn good at corners.
33 min: Calafiori wins a corner down the left. Time for one of Arsenal’s famous set-pieces. And …
32 min: Odegaard has the chance to play in Zubimendi down the right, but turns tail and sends the ball back to his defenders. Soon enough the ball’s at Raya’s feet. A few grumbles from the home fans, who may be wondering what happened to that fast start.
30 min: Calafiori has the chance to release Madueke down the left but overcooks the pass, the ball sent carelessly out for a goal kick. On the touchline, Mikel Arteta frowns quite a lot, and he’s not the only one. “This is all a bit tame from Arsenal,” writes Charles Antaki. “Perhaps the players have been up all night reading about the new team-mate. A bit of fizz required.”
29 min: … and so he comes back on. But he doesn’t look totally happy.
28 min: Odegaard’s feeling that right shoulder. It looks like he’s walking off, but then gives Mikel Arteta the thumbs-up. He wants to continue.
27 min: Odegaard sits down on the pitch and asks for the physio, who comes on and checks that shoulder.
26 min: Now it’s Leeds’ turn to stroke it around slowly. They’ll be happy with the way this match has panned out so far.
24 min: Arsenal’s early energy has dropped a little, and Leeds look slightly more comfortable as a result. Meanwhile Russell Yong’s first reaction to seeing the news of Eze’s signing break just before kick-off was: “What, no on-pitch contract signing a la Bryan Robson in 1981?! Men in suits crowded around a tiny table, fold-out chairs, some awkward ball-juggling in a suit and tie afterward? Game’s gone!”
22 min: Leeds have come alive. James advances down the right and reaches the byline, looking to find Gnonto at the near post. Gnonto can’t force the ball past Raya, who spreads himself bravely to block and takes a whack for his trouble. He’s up and about soon enough, able to restart the game with a goal kick.
20 min: … Struijk wins a header on the penalty spot and powers it straight at Raya, who tips over with a strong hand. Either side of the keeper and that was surely a goal. Nothing comes of the second corner.
19 min: … and so having said that, Leeds bust out of their half. James again runs at Calafiori down the right, and this time his low shot deflects out for a corner. From which …
18 min: Madueke slips forward for Gyokeres down the inside-left channel, but the pass is all wrong and Bogle can intercept and clear. Leeds are struggling to get out of their half.
16 min: From the restart, Leeds play themselves into trouble, Perri and Struijk faffing around with some unnecessary short passes. Zubimendi spots what’s unfolding, latching onto Struijk’s attempt to play upfield for Stach, and toe-pokes to Gyokeres, free on the penalty spot. Gyokeres has more time than he realises, and on the swivel, swipes a first-time shot wide left. Arsenal should be leading.
15 min: Rice takes the resulting free kick, sending a diagonal ball towards Gabriel on the left-hand corner of the six-yard box. Gabriel’s header sails harmlessly wide right.
14 min: Odegaard spins Stach, who barges him over from behind. The Arsenal captain lands awkwardly on his shoulder, and stays down grimacing awhile, but thankfully gets back up soon enough.
12 min: … and now they go long, but Gabriel is too strong for Piroe in the chase down the middle. He shepherds the ball back to Raya.
11 min: Leeds finally show in attack, James cutting in from the right and battering a low shot that’s blocked by Calafiori.
10 min: Arsenal waste another free kick, Odegaard witlessly hoofing it into a crowded box. But the hosts come again. First Calafiori flops over near James, and cheekily claims a penalty. He doesn’t get it. Rice then crosses from the left, but Saka can’t meet it with his head. Leeds finally clear their lines.
9 min: Perri dallies with the ball at his feet and is hounded by Gyokeres, forcing a shanked clearance. Bogle keeps it in play with a header on the touchline, but Madueke races off with it. Bogle responds by clipping Madueke from behind, just outside the box. He goes into the book, and will have a long evening ahead of him.
8 min: Saka busies himself down the right and cuts back for Odegaard, who drags a shot wide right from the edge of the box. Perri had it covered.
7 min: Gudmundsson clumsily clanks into Zubimendi. Free kick to Arsenal, just to the right of the D. A chance to stick one into the box, but they opt to play it short and waste it.
5 min: Leeds haven’t had much of a sniff yet.
4 min: James stands on the ball in the centre circle, allowing Rice to steam off with it. Rice lays off to Odegaard, who tries a drive from distance. That’s blocked as well. Arsenal have started briskly.
3 min: Calafiori feeds Madueke down the left wing and keeps going. He gets the ball back as he enters the box on the overlap, but his cross, intended for Gyokeres in the middle, is no good. Blocked and cleared. But it’s a promising start by Madueke, who is stationed on his less-favoured flank.
2 min: Timber finds Madueke on the left with a raking crossfield pass. Madueke sends in a cross-cum-shot that’s easy pickings for Perri in the Leeds goal.
Leeds get the ball rolling. Arsenal soon take it off them.
… and now the players ready for tonight emerge. Arsenal in their traditional red and white, Leeds in second-choice blue. A genuine buzz in the stadium, a heady mix of first-home-fixture-of-the-season excitement and new-signing thrill. We’ll be off soon, but just before kick-off, there’s a moment of applause in memory of former Arsenal director and board member Richard Carr, who died recently.
Ebere Eze, Arsenal’s new number 10, casually saunters out of the tunnel with his new shirt on. A broad smile then a laugh as he soaks up the love. Quite the ovation. He’s signed too late to feature this evening, but he’ll be available for Arsenal’s trip to Anfield next weekend.
Daniel Farke talks to Sky Sports. “No doubt we are playing one of the best sides … maybe the best side in terms of consistency … we know there will be difficult parts of the game … we must be rock-solid … suffer together … but it won’t be enough to just defend for 90-plus minutes … it’s also important that we have periods when we control the ball … play our game … we stick to our DNA … physicality … good in both boxes … still play football.”
Arsenal announce Eze signing
Some breaking news coming out of the Emirates: Arsenal have just completed the signing of Crystal Palace and England winger Eberechi Eze on a long-term contract.
“We are absolutely delighted to bring Eberechi to Arsenal,” says Mikel Arteta. “He is a powerful and exciting player who will give us a new dimension in our attacking game.
“What stands out just as much as his talent and intelligence as a player, is the way he has worked hard throughout his career to get where he is today. His journey, his mentality, and his ambition are exactly what we want in our team.”
Eberechi will be given the number 10 shirt. He will meet his new team-mates after tonight’s game.
Mikel Arteta speaks to Sky Sports. “We have options … every game we will look at potential advantages we could have … we have resources throughout the game to change things … [15-year-old Max Dowman] has earned the right to be on the bench … you see already the enthusiasm and joy of the fans … we have the chance to create something very important.”
Street art seems to be the order of the day on the bustling avenues that surround the Emirates Stadium. Here we see fans flocking to study minimalist satire Trophy Cabinet (2025, paint on brick). The controversial painting hangs in a location previously reserved for All Roads Lead Home, a Bansky-style mural depicting Eberechi Eze.
“I don’t get it.” Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images
Meanwhile, stationed outside a nearby pizzeria, this typographical piece contemplates themes of existential angst and unrequited desire. Do you want some chilli oil with your crude sloganeering?
“Yes dear.” Photograph: Catherine Ivill/AMA/Getty Images
Arsenal make two changes to their starting XI after the 1-0 win at Manchester United. Jurriën Timber replaces the injured Ben White in defence, while Noni Madueke comes in for the benched Gabriel Martinelli.
Leeds United also won their opening game 1-0, at home to Everton last Monday. They make one change to their starting line-up, Ilia Gruev replacing their injured captain Ethan Ampadu.
The teams
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice, Saka, Gyokeres, Madueke.
Subs: Mosquera, Arrizabalaga, Kiwior, Trossard, Nwaneri, Merino, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman, Martinelli.
Leeds United: Lucas Perri, Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Gudmundsson, Tanaka, Gruev, Stach, James, Piroe, Gnonto.
Subs: Darlow, Longstaff, Aaronson, Nmecha, Bijol, Okafor, Harrison, Bornauw, Byram.
Referee: Jarred Gillett (Australia).
Preamble
Welcome to a rematch of the 1972 FA Cup final, which Leeds United won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Sniffer Clarke. Leeds fans are advised to keep thinking about that, because more up-to-date data very much does not skew in their favour. In the last 20 years, these two clubs have met 11 times. Arsenal have won nine of the matches, scoring four goals on three separate occasions and 23 overall. Leeds have won none, scoring just seven goals in total. Pull the focus back just one more year, to the 2003-04 season, and we find another three wins for Arsenal: two 4-1s and a 5-0. So throw in Arsenal’s genuine title hopes and newly promoted Leeds’ more modest aims, and everything points to a home banker. But football is football, so you just never know. Kick-off is at 5.30pm UK time. It’s on!
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