Arsenal delivered a dominant performance against Premier League newcomers Leeds United, cruising to a 5-0 win at the Emirates Stadium in a match that showcased the attacking prowess of Mikel Arteta’s squad, yet the celebrations were dampened by emerging injury concerns ahead of a crucial away fixture against Liverpool.
The highlight of the evening was the home debut of new signing Viktor Gyokeres, who made an immediate impact by scoring twice, quickly endearing himself to the Arsenal faithful. Jurrien Timber also impressed with two well-taken goals from corner situations, while Bukayo Saka added another strike to the tally before being forced off the pitch due to discomfort, adding to the growing list of injury issues within the squad.
The match also saw the remarkable debut of 15-year-old academy prodigy Max Dowman, who came on in the closing stages and won a stoppage-time penalty, which Gyokeres coolly converted, further cementing his impressive first outing for the club.
However, the victory was overshadowed by a series of injury setbacks. Captain Martin Odegaard, marking his 200th appearance for Arsenal, had to leave the pitch early with a shoulder problem, and Saka appeared visibly uncomfortable after limping off. These injuries are a fresh concern for Arteta, who already has Kai Havertz sidelined with a knee issue picked up during training, which was one of the motivating factors behind Arsenal’s record-breaking £60 million acquisition of Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace, hijacking Tottenham’s move for the midfielder.
Additional squad concerns include Christian Norgaard, who has yet to feature due to ongoing fitness issues. Despite these challenges, Arteta continues to strengthen his squad, having now overseen more than £1 billion in transfer spending, with the unveiling of Eze to the Emirates crowd before kick-off alongside fellow recruits Noni Madueke, Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi, Cristhian Mosquera, and Kepa Arrizabalaga, signaling a new era of ambition and depth for the Gunners.