Gyokeres hits double as Arsenal put FIVE past Leeds

Viktor Gyokeres opened his Premier League account with a double as Arsenal romped to a 5-0 win over Leeds United, though Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka suffered injuries.

With Eberechi Eze presented to Emirates Stadium crowd before kick-off and fellow new signing Gyokeres getting up and running in an emphatic victory, it was largely a day of celebration for Arsenal fans.

But captain Odegaard was substituted before half-time nursing his right shoulder, and Saka then pulled up with an apparent hamstring issue shortly after Gyokeres' first goal, so there was cause for concern for Mikel Arteta.

Saka had earlier scored Arsenal's second, adding to an opener from Jurrien Timber, who was on target again for the fourth. Number five came courtesy of a stoppage-time penalty from Gyokeres.

With champions Liverpool up next the Gunners – who joined Tottenham Hotspur at the top of the table – Arteta will be hoping for positive news on his injured stars.

How the match unfolded

Odegaard's fall was the most notable incident of an opening half an hour in which Arsenal struggled to find their groove, and the Gunners were grateful to David Raya for a strong save from Pascal Struijk's header.

A trademark set-piece got the hosts going, though, as Timber nodded in Declan Rice's corner in the 34th minute, and after Odegaard was forced off – having tried to play on – the goalscorer turned creator for Saka to fire in a second in the first minute of stoppage time.

Gyokeres got his first Premier League goal in the 48th minute, cutting in from the left before squeezing a finish inside the near post, but another injury setback followed when Saka went off.

Another corner brought another Timber strike on 56 minutes – the Dutch international prodding over the line after a goalmouth scramble.

A league debut for Max Dowman provided further cheer, and it was the 15-year-old who drew a clumsy tackle from Anton Stach, paving the way for Gyokeres to confidently dispatch his penalty in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

Injury deja vu but optimism abounds

Injuries to Odegaard, Saka and Kai Havertz played pivotal roles in Arsenal's failed title bid last season, and Arteta has now lost all three of those attackers again in a matter of days.

Updates on these latest two issues will be eagerly awaited, but Arsenal's transfer business perhaps means they will at least not be quite so reliant on their stricken stars.

Eze is an obvious candidate to fill the creative void Odegaard and Saka would leave if they faced an extended period on the sidelines, while the hope will be Gyokeres' goals will be the first of many for the Sweden striker.

Even outside of the new recruits, there is plenty of cause for excitement, too.

Ethan Nwaneri became the Premier League's youngest ever player in 2022 and, now 18, was entrusted to replace Odegaard. Dowman, 54 days older than Nwaneri was on his debut, sits second on that list yet repeatedly troubled Leeds as a substitute.

Both teenagers are perhaps too green to be thrust into a huge encounter at Anfield next week, but even with injuries biting again, Arteta has options.

Leeds their own worst enemy

Every promoted team must learn to adapt to the rigours of the Premier League, knowing when to attack games and when to look to dig in and grind out a result.

Although it did not ultimately prove the most convincing win, Leeds certainly went on the offensive in their opener at home to Everton, keeping the visitors penned in during a frantic first half.

Wisely, Daniel Farke changed his out-of-possession approach for this game, initially setting his team up in a solid defensive shape that Arsenal largely struggled to break down in the first half.

In possession, however, there is work to do. Leeds continued to play out from the back and were repeatedly picked off.

Jayden Bogle earned an early booking when played into trouble by Lucas Perri, a first-half Gyokeres chance followed Stach being caught in possession, and then Arsenal’s second goal came after Ilia Gruev dallied and was robbed by Rice.

Leeds will not be judged on games against the elite teams, but they need to quickly adjust to the pace of the top flight, with Newcastle United's high press unlikely to be any more accommodating in their next Premier League match.

Club reports

Arsenal report | Leeds report

What the managers said

Mikel Arteta: "Exactly how we wanted to start the first game at home in the league. Start to create that confidence and that domination at home. The atmosphere was electric from the beginning."

Daniel Farke:  "Short story, Arsenal were on it today, and they were too good for us and we have to accept that they were the better side."

Next fixtures

Key facts

Timber became only the second Arsenal defender to register 3+ goal involvements in a Premier League match (two goals, one assists) with Nacho Monreal the other, whilst he is the first defender to both score and assist in the same Premier League match for the Gunners since Cedric Soares against Everton in May 2022.

Arsenal’s Dowman (15y 235d) became just the third player to appear in a Premier League game before turning 16 years old after team-mate Nwaneri v Brentford in September 2022 (15y 181d) and Jeremy Monga for Leicester City v Newcastle United in April (15y 271d).

Leeds have now lost each of their last six away matches in the Premier League, their longest losing run on the road in the top-flight since a run of nine between October 1992 and February 1993 under Howard Wilkinson.

Arsenal are now unbeaten in their last 43 Premier League home games against newly promoted sides equalling the competition's record set by Chelsea (also 43 games between November 2001-November 2015).