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Beren Cross

Leeds United player ratings as Meslier and Ayling errors pave the way for Arsenal win

Leeds United (4-2-3-1)

1 Illan Meslier

Began the afternoon on the worst possible note with a heavy first touch when he had Eddie Nketiah breathing down his neck. Should have put his boot through it at that stage in the game. Shaky thereafter. 3

2 Luke Ayling (c)

An entirely unnecessary, needless and irresponsible challenge on Gabriel Martinelli in the corner when the team were already in disarray and the forward was going nowhere. Will be kicking himself. 2

5 Robin Koch

Didn't have a handle on the Arsenal forwards and looked even more precarious when he was covering for Ayling at right-back. 5

READ MORE: Leeds United will see relegation decided for good across three decisive clashes today

14 Diego Llorente

Credit for popping up with the goal at a good moment, but another choppy afternoon at the heart of the defence. Passes were short and loose in he first half especially. Looks like he has an error in him all the time in recent weeks. 5

3 Junior Firpo

As worried as you felt when Bukayo Saka sized him up, the Arsenal forward was not at his best and could not quite punish the left-back as he wanted to. Can't fault his work ethic as he got up and down, even if he did leave the defence exposed at points. Credit for the flicked header into Llorente for the goal. 4

23 Kalvin Phillips

Clearly spent a lot of his afternoon hemmed onto the edge of his own box trying to shield the defence, but overrun at times in a chaotic 90 minutes. Some solid tackles went in, but not a match for his control of a game. 5

43 Mateusz Klich

Virtually a spectator apart from his foul and yellow card. Arsenal's attack did not allow the Leeds midfield to breathe and Klich never had any space to get anything moving forward of substance. 4

10 Raphinha

Struggled to get any attacks going with 11 men, let alone 10. Never going to be the kind of match for his talents once they went two goals and a man down. 4

20 Daniel James

Lots of running around, but no impact on the match in an attacking sense. 4

22 Jack Harrison

Some promising ball carries as Leeds found a decent pocket of momentum in the second half, but still found the wrong passes at the end of them. 4

30 Joe Gelhardt

Sacrificed after the red card before his first start in five months had barely got going. 5

Substitutes

13 Kristoffer Klaesson

19 Rodrigo (on for Raphinha 60min)

Had a little more to work with than Gelhardt in his half an hour, but chasing shadows and waiting for openings that never came. 5

21 Pascal Struijk (on for Gelhardt 29min)

Made some really decent blocks and tackles when Arsenal threaded the needle around the Leeds box. Big presence at set-pieces. 6

26 Lewis Bate (on for Klich h/t)

A very promising half from the youngster, all things considered. Bright and energetic. Carried the ball well too. 6

33 Leo Hjelde

35 Charlie Cresswell

42 Sam Greenwood

46 Jamie Shackleton

63 Archie Gray

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