David Hytner was at the Emirates tonight. Here’s his report. Thanks for reading this MBM.
Mikel Arteta’s turn to speak to Sky. “A really positive afternoon to start the season off at home … the team played really well … really confident … five goals and a clean sheet is a really good start … [Max Dowman’s debut] was a special moment, you could sense it … it’s how he reacts and deals with the situation … he wins a penalty on his debut at the Emirates, that’s incredible.”
He also gives an update on the injuries to Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka. Ødegaard “looks like a shoulder … he’ll have a scan tomorrow” while Saka “felt something in his hamstring … the other side … not great news.”
Leeds manager Daniel Farke speaks to Sky. “It was always difficult … travelling here without our most important player [Ethan Ampadu] … then of course you wish to have Arsenal after a Champions League game or something … not their first home game of the season and on the back of a big win at Manchester United … all of their new signings were paraded before the game … the stadium was buzzing … they are on it … five shots on target, five goals … it is difficult when they are so effective … they were the better side and deserved to win … we know this is not a season-defining game for us.”
Viktor Gyökeres speaks to Sky. “I’m really happy with the result … it was very nice to score two goals as well … there is always pressure … I know I will take my chances sooner or later … today I took two of them … it was a short pre-season for me … not too many weeks training … it was important for me to get 90 minutes … get the rhythm … get to know the team even more … I felt more comfortable … you can see that.”
Jurriën Timber talks to Sky Sports. “A special day … a nice first home game of the season … you felt the energy of the crowd … the team played really well … a clean sheet again also important … scoring two times and assisting, I’m going to enjoy this day … I don’t think I’ve done that [before] to be fair! … a beautiful day … my family is here … my brother, my girlfriend, some friends … everyone can see the potential [Max Dowman] has already … playing against grown men … a joy to watch … hopefully he will have some amazing years with us … we have to get perspective about things that didn’t go well … next week we have an amazing game at Anfield so have to get ready for that.”
Viktor Gyökeres opens his Arsenal account with a fine solo goal and a confident penalty, while 15-year-old Max Dowman announces himself to the Premier League with a cameo brimful of sass and style. A man-of-the-match performance from two-goal Jurriën Timber, too, plus a belter from Bukayo Saka. A great day for Arsenal … but one soured slightly with injury worries for Martin Ødegaard and Saka. Leeds meanwhile will put this one down to experience. “With the trip to Anfield next week, even a one-game absence for Saka would be particularly keenly felt,” writes David Howell. “Something about having your title hopes damaged in a game you absolutely dominate feels very, very Arteta indeed somehow.”
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 2 | 6 | 6 |
| 2 | Tottenham Hotspur | 2 | 5 | 6 |
| 3 | Chelsea | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| 4 | Liverpool | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 5 | Man City | 2 | 2 | 3 |
FULL TIME: Arsenal 5-0 Leeds United
All of this, with Eberechi Eze still to come.
GOAL! Arsenal 5-0 Leeds United (Gyokeres 90+5 pen)
Gyokeres, who scored 27 of 28 penalties in Portugal with Sporting, is one from one with his new club! He whips the spot kick into the bottom right, and it’s a two-goal haul for Arsenal’s new striker!
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Penalty for Arsenal!
90 min +3: Dowman dribbles in from the right and is clipped by Stach. The referee points to the spot. What a debut the young man is having!
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90 min +2: Rice stands around at the back with the ball at his feet. Leeds don’t press him. Both teams desirous of hearing the final whistle.
90 min +1: The first of five additional minutes passes by.
90 min: Lewis-Skelly is flipped into the air by Byram. Rice sends the free kick into the box, left to right, but Gabriel can’t get any power on his header from a tight angle. Perri claims.
88 min: Rice dribbles around the Leeds box in the hope of teeing up Dowman, but can’t manage it. Arsenal in exhibition mode now.
87 min: Stach strides down the middle of the park. He’s got Aaronson to his left, and Byram to his right, but clanks his pass into the nearest defender. That just about sums up Leeds’ day.
86 min: Arsenal ping it around the back, just because they can. Leeds chasing shadows.
84 min: The Leeds fans remain in fine voice. Marching on Together.
83 min: Byram comes on for Bogle. “What a crazy game this is,” writes Stephen Bradfield. “Arsenal have just paid £60m for a player - Eze - whose first club was Arsenal.”
81 min: Nwaneri takes the resulting free kick, near the right-hand corner flag. Struijk heads it out to the edge of the box. Dowman meets it, slicing powerfully wide left of the goal. Had that been on target, it was in, because Perri wasn’t in the picture at all. Dowman showing absolutely no nerves whatsoever! Showing for everything. What an impression he’s already made.
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79 min: Trossard probes down the left but can’t nip between Bogle and Aaronson. He turns tail and Arsenal switch the play, Dowman driving along the right wing, and nearly fighting his way past Gudmundsson. The Leeds defender drags the young lad down, and goes into the book for protesting the award of a foul.
77 min: Should 15-year-old Dowman score today, he’d become the youngest scorer in English top-flight history. That record’s currently held by Ipswich Town’s Jason Dozzell, who was 16 years and 57 days old when notching for the Tractor Boys against Coventry City in 1984. Max still has a bit of time to play with.
75 min: Trossard picks out Dowman with a crossfield pass. Dowman cuts in from the right and reaches the edge of the D, before flashing a shot over the bar.
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74 min: The slew of substitutes, along with the scoreline, means this game now has a vague feel of pre-season drift. The home fans are enjoying themselves, though.
72 min: Nwaneri barrels down the middle of the park with great speed. He fizzles out just before reaching the Leeds box, Stach refusing to budge. Nwaneri is 18 years and five months old, an aged husk of a man compared to young Max.
70 min: Okafor nearly gets the better of Mosquera down the left. Nearly. Not quite. Leeds have still only had five touches in the Arsenal box.
68 min: Zubimendi pings a pass down the right for Dowman to chase. Much excitement in the crowd as the race is run, but Gudmundsson holds his line and wins it.
66 min: Leeds make a double change, replacing Gnonto and James with Okafor and Aaronson.
65 min: Dowman becomes the second youngest player in Premier League history. He’s 15 years and 235 days old; his team-mate Ethan Nwaneri is the only lad ahead of him on the list, having made his debut in 2022 when 15 years and 181 days old.
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64 min: Arsenal make a triple change. Madueke, Calafiori and Timber depart; on come Mosquera, Lewis-Skelly and 15-year-old Max Dowman. Huge cheers greet the young man, of whom much is expected.
62 min: Madueke crosses from the right. Leeds again slip into Keystone Kops mode, falling over and failing to clear. The ball drops to Calafiori, who hoicks wildly over the bar. Leeds in danger of getting routed here.
60 min: Arsenal, the job already done, stroke it around the back awhile. They’ll certainly want to take any remaining heat out of the game, having already suffered a couple of worrying injuries to Odegaard and Saka.
58 min: VAR has a look, just in case Saliba handled, but there’s no problem there. The goal stands. Leeds respond with a double change, sending on Longstaff and Nmecha for Tanaka and Piroe.
GOAL! Arsenal 4-0 Leeds United (Timber 56)
Madueke’s low shot is deflected wide left of the target. The resulting corner isn’t dealt with by Leeds at all. Rice curls into a crowded six-yard box. Timber wins a header. Saliba and Struijk both stick out a chest at the ball. The ball drops again to Timber, who leaning back pokes home with his studs. Scrappy, messy, but they all count!
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54 min: Saka had reared up mid-dribble. The feared hop and skip that suggests a possible hamstring problem. He was feeling the underside of his left thigh. As he leaves the pitch, he has a word with Mikel Arteta. Both men look a little concerned. Hopefully more precautionary than anything serious, but time will tell.
53 min: A pained look in Saka’s eye as he gingerly feels his left leg. He blows out his cheeks in frustration as he slowly limps off. Another few shakes of the head. Trossard comes on in his place.
51 min: … but the joyous mood is suddenly dampened when Saka goes down. He sits on the turf shaking his head sadly. This doesn’t look promising.
50 min: That’s got the crowd going, a fine solo effort that’s celebrated with a mixture of joy and relief. The former Sporting Clube scoring sensation has lift-off.
GOAL! Arsenal 3-0 Leeds United (Gyokeres 48)
Gyokeres didn’t do much at Old Trafford last week; he didn’t do much in the first half today. But he’s suddenly sprung to life, and in some style! He chases a long pass down the left and enters the box. He takes a couple of touches before powering his way past Struijk and swivelling an unstoppable drive into the bottom left! His Arsenal career is go!
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47 min: Saka dribbles his way past Gudmundsson down the right but overhits his cross. Calafiori tries unsuccessfully to keep the move going on the left flank.
46 min: Arsenal are immediately on the front foot, their press forcing Tanaka into conceding a throw deep in Leeds territory. Calafiori launches a long one into the mixer but the visitors clear their lines easily enough.
Arsenal get the second half started. No changes.
Half-time entertainment. Crystal Palace bid farewell to their FA Cup final hero.
We made history together and it was done with that smile on your face.
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) August 23, 2025
Forever South London & Proud.
Ebere Eze 🦅 pic.twitter.com/6GVSF5VQTF
HALF TIME: Arsenal 2-0 Leeds United
Arsenal have had two attempts on target. Two goals. The sort of clinical behaviour that wins titles.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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?
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).
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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!
