Leeds 0-4 Arsenal: ‘Dominant’ Elland Street win has received Gunners the Premier League title, says Paul Merson

Paul Merson says Arsenal’s dominant victory at Leeds will go down as the sport that received them the Premier League title.

Questions have been beginning to be requested in regards to the Gunners’ bid to win a primary title in 22 years as they went into the match at Elland Street on the again of a run of three league video games and not using a win.

Nevertheless, Arsenal reaffirmed their credentials with a cushty victory that lifts them seven factors clear on the high of the desk once more forward of Manchester Metropolis and Aston Villa each that includes dwell on Sky Sports activities on Sunday.

Merson believes the way with which Arsenal handed their check at Leeds reveals why they are going to be topped champions come Could.

“Arsenal were outstanding,” former Gunner Merson mentioned on Soccer Saturday.

“There was a lot of pressure on them because I thought if they got beat, the scrutiny was going to increase a lot. However, they have gone seven points clear again with a win at a really hard place to go in Elland Road.”

“At times, it was like boys vs men,” he added. “Arsenal simply brushed Leeds apart. It was an A+ efficiency.

“I can’t emphasise how good a result and performance it was.

“Elland Street was rocking in the beginning of the sport however as soon as Arsenal received into the sport, they have been dominant all around the pitch.

“The squad is just phenomenal. Noni Madueke comes in for Bukayo Saka and gets two assists. There were five players that came on in Gabriel Martinelli, Eberechi Eze, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus and Riccardo Calafiori – what team don’t they get in?

“Man Metropolis now must go to Tottenham and win. For me, that was the sport that received Arsenal the Premier League.”

‘Each recreation is a cup ultimate’

Arsenal adopted up goalless league attracts towards Liverpool and Nottingham Forest with final week’s house defeat to Manchester United, prompting ideas they have been feeling the strain in pursuit of their first home title since 2004.

However they made it eight straight Champions League wins in midweek to achieve the final 16, beating Kairat 3-2, and there was no signal of any nerves in west Yorkshire.

“Off the back of the last three performances we knew how big today was,” Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice informed Soccer Saturday.

“To win 4-0 is a massive win for us.

“We are able to management what we will management and we now have to maintain successful video games and maintain pushing. What can be can be.

“So far we are top in the Premier League and won eight out of eight in the Champions League. We can’t complain about where we are. We are in a really strong position, we know as players we have a really good squad.

“Each recreation is a cup ultimate. We have now an extended 4 months forward however we’re ready. Let’s maintain going and provides it go.”

Arteta: Arsenal confirmed how a lot they need success

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta mentioned his facet delivered a press release win at Leeds to get their Premier League title problem again on observe.

Martin Zubimendi and Leeds goalkeeper Karl Darlow’s personal objective put Arsenal 2-0 up on the interval earlier than second-half efforts from Viktor Gyokeres and substitute Gabriel Jesus received Mikel Arteta’s facet again on observe.

The Gunners made it eight straight wins towards Leeds and stay unbeaten towards them in 16 matches, stretching again to 2003, whereas they haven’t misplaced at Elland Street since November 2000.

“We’re very happy, obviously,” Arteta mentioned. “A very impressive performance, a very impressive result.

“And within the context that we have executed it. We knew in regards to the issue of the sport and the opponent that we’re dealing with, with a current type and the fashion of play that they’ve in the intervening time, the vitality that the stadium brings.

“And then the fact that after three results that didn’t go our way in the league, we really wanted to show how much we wanted it. And I think we said something on that today.”

Farke: We confronted one of the best group in Europe

Daniel Farke was stuffed with reward for Arsenal’s efficiency at Elland Street as Leeds suffered solely a second defeat in 11 video games in all competitions, suggesting the Gunners are one of the best group in Europe.

“Congratulations to Arsenal. Deserved win today. We have to accept the better team won this game.

“We have been additionally reasonable earlier than, we confronted one of the best facet at the moment in Europe. There is a cause why this group is sitting high of the Premier League, with eight wins out of eight within the Champions League. You want an ideal day, but in addition a little bit of luck. We didn’t have our highest day.

“They were on it from first to last second. We have to accept their quality today, there’s not too much to interpret from today.

“Karl’s upset with the state of affairs [regarding the own goal]. However the important thing was at this time we did not discover the options to create probabilities and rating targets.

“Set pieces are a big topic for them. We have a few too many away. We have to defend all the corners pretty spot on. If you concede two goals like this, against the best side in Europe, it was always going to be a long afternoon.”

Evaluation: Arsenal embracing title race noise

Sky Sports activities’ Sam Blitz at Elland Street:

After final weekend’s defeat to Manchester United, Mikel Arteta held a gathering along with his Arsenal gamers this week. The assembly was “beautiful”, in accordance with the Arsenal boss, and the subject was how his squad would deal with the noise.

Arsenal’s type was dipping. The league’s finest defence was leaking targets and the assault was dwindling, with debates about who needs to be centre ahead, and who ought to play behind him in attacking midfield.

They then misplaced Bukayo Saka within the warm-up at Leeds and with Mikel Merino additionally out, the damage subject was rising once more. They even had change final last-minute journey plans to Leeds on Friday.

A number of issues have threatened to derail Arsenal just lately, however as an alternative they’ve come by means of their sticky patch. After that assembly, seven targets have gone in – centre ahead choices Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus all scoring.

Their defence is firming up once more, with Leeds restricted to only one shot on track. Martin Odegaard got here off the bench and performed massive roles in targets three and 4 at Elland Street. Noni Madueke’s stand-in show confirmed Arsenal can’t be badly affected by a Saka blow, and they aren’t as reliant on him like in earlier seasons.

Sure, it is solely Kairat Almaty and Leeds – however the opposition is sort of irrelevant with regards to Arteta’s facet. Their largest menace to the title is themselves – it is usually quipped that solely Arsenal can cease Arsenal successful the title.

After some clear-the-air talks, the Gunners appear to be embracing the noise, they usually’re having fun with their soccer once more.