Arsenal stay top with dramatic win over Leeds

Arsenal survived a late scare to move four points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table with a gritty win over Leeds United which underlined their title credentials on Sunday.

The hard-fought narrow victory, their ninth of 10 league games this season, was exactly what the doctor ordered – but it was far from straightforward.

After a lengthy delay caused by a power outage at Elland Road, Arsenal took the lead through the in-form Bukayo Saka. Played in by Martin Odegaard, Saka was not phased by a tight angle, blasting into the roof of the net to score for the third straight Arsenal game and make it 1-0.

Leeds pressed and harried the Gunners throughout and looked dangerous, particularly through Luis Sinisterra, but it took until after the break for the game to turn. Patrick Bamford’s introduction gave them a focal point and the home side pinned Arsenal in.

But Bamford could not make the most of his ample opportunities. He dragged his penalty agonisingly wide after William Saliba was penalised by VAR for a handball and spurned a few presentable one-on-one chances against Aaron Ramsdale.

Leeds kept pushing and Crysencio Summerville could have snatched a point with a late chance, but he blasted over a cutback. There was still time for even more drama as referee Chris Kavanagh initially sent Gabriel off and awarded Leeds a second penalty for kicking out at Bamford.

But after consulting the pitchside monitor he opted to overturn his decision because Bamford had pushed Gabriel to the ground in the build-up. It was a huge reprieve for Arsenal, who clung onto the points in the most dramatic of circumstances.