Arsenal managed to build a gap of four points at the top of the table when they earned a huge 1-0 victory over Leeds United at Elland Road. It was far from easy for the Gunners though as controversy began in the first minute and ran all the way until the last in a challenging afternoon.
The game had to be suspended just seconds after kick off as a power cut stopped all technology used by the officials from working, taking roughly 40 minutes for proceedings to get underway yet again. Star winger Bukayo Saka then opened the scoring in the first half, squeezing in a powerful shot into the roof of the net from an impossibly tight angle on the right.
The home side piled the pressure on after the break though as William Saliba was penalised for a handball in the box, but Patrick Bamford dragged his spot kick wide of the target. The home side thought another penalty was awarded in the final few minutes as defender Gabriel appeared to catch Bamford with his trailing leg, though it was subsequently overturned as the striker was adjudged to have fouled the Brazilian first.
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It marked a tough but resolute victory for Mikel Arteta, who avoided a potential trip up from a tough opponent while also moving clear at the top of the league. With that said, here's a look at how the national media reacted to the performance.
While it was a tough match for the Gunners, the Mirror claim that the huge win came thanks to the influence of Arteta, saying: "Before the match Arteta predicted a physical battle against an energetic Leeds and that’s exactly what they got, with Marsch instructing his side to press from the front. That didn’t stop Arsenal from playing out from the back, with the centre-backs still splitting and allowing Ramsdale a lot of time on the ball.
"In the aftermath of Saka’s goal, there was another hint of Arteta’s influence as he grabbed Gabriel for a chat on the sidelines. With Leeds pouring forward in the second half after Bamford's penalty miss the Gunners boss did the same thing, this time collaring the entire team."
During a difficult test, the Guardian claimed that the manner in which Arsenal got their victory said a lot about the challenge of Leeds, saying: "The sight of Arsenal devoting much of the second half to time-wasting wherever possible – and the sound of Mikel Arteta subsequently expressing delight at having 'found a way to win' – spoke volumes.
"No matter that Leeds’ winless run stretched to a sixth game, the Premier League leaders did not have things all their own way in West Yorkshire, where VAR provoked frustration and relief in almost equal measure."
While it wasn't a pretty victory, the Telegraph claimed that the display suggests Arsenal could challenge for the title again: "Not even the finest teams of Arsene Wenger’s era were able to win nine of their opening 10 games of a league season and, while there is an awfully long way to go for Mikel Arteta’s class of 2022, this was another victory that suggested they might just be capable of challenging for a first title since the glory days of Highbury."
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