ARSENAL extendeded their lead at the top of the table to seven points today as they defeated Leeds United 4-0 at Elland Road to record their first win in four English Premier League matches.
Noni Madueke was the main man for Arsenal, although he was not initially scheduled to start and was a late replacement for Bukayo Saka, who limped out of the warm-up with a hip problem.
England with Nigerian heritage Madueke, who has had to play the role of back-up for most of this season, took his chance to impress as he curled in an excellent cross for Martin Zubimendi to nod Arsenal in front.
The home side had started the game well but Arsenal pinned Leeds back for large parts of the first half, winning a number of corners and throw-ins to increase pressure on the Leeds defence.
It was from one of these corners that Arsenal doubled the lead when Madueke’s curling delivery caught out goalkeeper Karl Darlow and he could only punch the ball into his own net.
Viktor Gyokeres then made sure it was a comfortable end to the game when he fought to get on the end of Gabriel Martinelli’s inviting cross to make it 3-0 before substitute Gabriel Jesus added a fourth late on.
The expectation was on Arsenal to deliver a result coming into this game after their recent form, but they recorded an important victory to put pressure on their title rivals, Manchester City and Aston Villa, who are not in action until tomorrow.
Also today, Eli Junior Kroupi’s powerful first-half strike helped Bournemouth defeat Wolves 2-0 at Molineux to register back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time since September.
Last-gasp victors over Liverpool last weekend, the Cherries struggled to test Jose Sa before the half-hour mark but took the lead when Kroupi rifled an unstoppable, looping effort over the Wolves goalkeeper from just inside the penalty area.
Alex Scott clinched all three points for Bournemouth late in the second half when he converted Cherries’ debutant Rayan’s low cross from the left.
The result was a little harsh on beleaguered Wolves, who created plenty of chances, with Super Eagles of Nigeria striker Tolu Arokodare leading the line as they sought to bounce back from last weekend’s defeat at Manchester City – their first loss in four league matches.
Indeed, Rob Edwards’ team thought they had taken an early lead when Mateus Mane nodded Rodrigo Gomes’ cross in off the post after only seven minutes.
However, the hosts’ celebrations were swiftly cut short by the linesman’s flag after Gomes had strayed marginally offside in the build-up to the teenager’s header.
Bournemouth went close to a second after Kroupi’s opener, with Amine Adli and Alex Jimenez both denied by Sa either side of half-time.
But Djordje Petrovic thwarted Arokodare with a reflex stop before Jorgen Strand Larsen – who has been the subject of bids from Leeds United and Crystal Palace this month – dragged a shot wide not long after coming off the bench.
With the result, Bournemouth climb to 12th but are now just five points off a top four spot – although they have played a game more than the majority of teams above them.
In the other afternoon kick-off in the Premier League today, Everton struck deep into stoppage time through Beto to rescue a 1-1 draw at home to Brighton.
With agency reports
