A battling win at Elland Highway prolonged Arsenal’s lead on the high of the desk and it’s more and more possible that Mikel Arteta’s facet will go into the winter break because the Premier League front-runners.Manchester Metropolis’s defeat by Liverpool ensured Arsenal have a four-point cushion over the champions with 4 League video games to play earlier than the Premier League breaks for the World Cup. Arteta’s facet may even lose at Chelsea subsequent month and nonetheless resume on the summit on Boxing Day.The top coach has naturally resisted speak of a title race, however going into the six-week hiatus as League leaders can be a major assertion. It could be more durable to minimize a title problem if Arsenal ‘win’ the primary half of the marketing campaign, and doing so would enhance confidence and energise the squad when the bulk return from Qatar in late December.Main the best way would additionally include added stress, and the following query for Arteta’s facet is whether or not they can deal with hovering expectations and the sense that they’re now a prized scalp.Aaron Ramsdale, the excellent participant yesterday, dismissed the suggestion that Arsenal are feeling the stress of main the best way.Arsenal have been overcome with aid after holding on to beat Leeds and prolong their title lead / Getty Pictures“No, we go into each recreation with a giant smile on our faces, attempting to win,” mentioned the goalkeeper. “It’s an odd feeling that in seven video games the League will cease. We’ve nearly acquired a benchmark, get as many factors as we are able to till that time after which we consider with the group all through winter and see the place we’re. We’re simply loving going into video games, as a result of we all know that at our greatest, and now at our worst, we are able to win.”As Ramsdale acknowledged, the win right here, sealed with a first-half strike by Bukayo Saka, added one other string to Arsenal’s bow: the power to win ugly.There has lengthy been a way, which predates Arteta, that Arsenal might be bullied and intimidated, however they got here by a collection of exams in Yorkshire.A 40-minute delay at the beginning of the match resulting from an influence minimize was unsettling, and Arsenal survived a second-half barrage from the hosts, who have been additionally sharper earlier than the interval. In the long run, the style of this victory ought to solely add to the sense that this Arsenal crew is provided to noticeably problem.Profitable sides additionally want luck, and the Gunners had their fair proportion of fortune, notably Patrick Bamford’s dreadful penalty which he despatched skidding broad of the upright after William Saliba had been penalised for handball.Even Saka’s purpose was a present, as Rodrigo’s try at a crossfield go was simply intercepted by the winger, who exchanged touches with Martin Odegaard and fired into the roof of the web.Arsenal might be delighted with their place of management, however one other large win means there isn’t a longer any sense that they’re flying beneath the radarThe introduction of Bamford on the interval gave Leeds a focus for his or her fast-paced assaults, and the striker was quickly making Saliba jittery. Ramsdale twice bailed out the centre-half with sensible saves from Bamford, and solely a collection of last-ditch tackles and blocks prevented him from being additional examined.“It was actually gratifying,” mentioned Ramsdale. “It’s good to have that feeling that you just’re getting one up on him [Bamford] on the time. He may’ve scored that penalty and turned issues in his favour, it’s an ideal little battle we’ve acquired, however on the finish of the day it wasn’t simply me. We had some large blocks and moments from our defenders, midfielders and attackers.”There was even a component of fortune for Arsenal to a late flashpoint when Gabriel was proven a pink card and Leeds awarded a penalty after the defender was judged to have kicked out at Bamford.READ MOREOn the VAR’s recommendation, referee Chris Kavanagh consulted his monitor and replays confirmed Bamford shoved Gabriel to the bottom earlier than the Brazilian’s leg appeared to catch him. The penalty was overruled and Gabriel’s card downgraded to a yellow, but when Kavanagh felt he had intentionally retaliated, there have been grounds to stay with a sending-off. It was certainly one of many breaks for Arsenal, however high sides make their very own luck.It’s a disgrace this week’s conflict with Metropolis was postponed to make method for Arsenal’s rearranged Europa League recreation in opposition to PSV Eindhoven, as it might have offered a captivating measure of their progress and even seen the hole on the high widened.As it’s, Arsenal might be delighted with their place of management, however one other large win means there isn’t a longer any sense that they’re flying beneath the radar.
Fortune favours Arsenal as stress builds with important assertion
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