Arsenal vs Leeds United Match Review and Player Ratings – 5-0 Premier League 2025/26 | OneFootball

Arsenal sent out a message of intent at the Emirates as they demolished Leeds United 5–0, combining set-piece ruthlessness with attacking swagger and fearlessness of youth. On an evening of full-throttle football, it was Timber who shone brightest with a double and an assist. There were also goals for Premier League newcomer Gyökeres (brace) and Saka. 15-year-old debutant Max Dowman had a cameo to remember. The only sour notes were injuries to Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard that marred an otherwise celebratory evening.

Arsenal vs Leeds United Match Review and Tactical Review

Before the match got under way, thousands of amiable hearts at the Emirates warmed up. New signing Eberechi Eze is introduced to the home fans. Donning the new Arsenal strip, the England international entered to rapturous applause. The signing symbolises more than just talent and creativity, but also that of a lifelong Arsenal supporter (who was released as an academy player) returning as an established Premier League player and being given the iconic number 10 jersey. The reaction visibly touched Eze, as it felt like a ‘homecoming’.

The opening moments were cautious; Arsenal were passive and slow in build-up play. Leeds harried Arsenal as the home team struggled to find their rhythm. When Mikel Arteta’s side did get their passing going, however, then quality began to shine through. Declan Rice’s set-piece delivery turned into a weapon. In the 34th minute, Timber headed a flicked header from a Rice corner to make it 1-0. It was a breakthrough that settled nerves, opening up the floodgates.

Just before half-time, Arsenal doubled their lead. Rice raced back to regain the ball, then spread the ball wide to Timber, who laid the ball for Saka, who struck first time across the stranded Leeds goalkeeper. The Emirates roared; Arsenal went in at the break 2-0 up.

The second half continued in the same vein. Within minutes of the restart, Viktor Gyökeres showed why Arsenal had invested in him. Peeling off his markers, he received a through ball wide, calmly cut in past 2 defenders and slotted home for 3-0. It was his first Premier League goal – a moment that raised both the temperature of the striker and ecstasy amongst fans.

But Arsenal were not satisfied. Another Rice corner caused chaos in the Leeds box, and when it fell fortuitously to Timber, he volleyed in his second goal.

But the highlight of the evening was reserved for the youngest player on the pitch. Max Dowman, only 15 years old, came on to a rapturous applause. In the dying stages, he elegantly dribbled into the box and was fouled to win a penalty. Gyökeres stepped up and did the rest: his second and the fifth for Arsenal.

The only blot on Arsenal’s night was when both Saka and Ødegaard came off with what Arteta subsequently termed “significant injuries”, with question marks as to if either will be available for the trip to Anfield next weekend.

Arsenal Tactics

Set up in a typical 4-3-3 shape, Arteta sent his team out to combine familiar tactics with new tricks. Timber often came inside from right-back, working two-on-one combinations against Leeds with Rice. This meant Arsenal controlled the third line of midfield and, in turn, Saka had space up higher on Leeds’ left side.

Wherever Rice went, so too did trouble. This aspect proved to be a central reason why Timber took his goals: on both occasions it was from a Rice corner. In attack, Arsenal were flexible: Gyökeres was happy to work the channels and also drop deep to connect the play.

Defensively, Arsenal would press into a 4-4-2 formation with Ødegaard joining Gyökeres, whilst still maintaining a rigid structure in midfield and defence.

Leeds United Tactics

In a 4-3-3, Leeds tried to press Arsenal high up in the early going. The Midfield trio laboured in midfield to deny space, but Arsenal pulled them out of place through rotation. Once they’d conceded, Leeds encountered difficulty in finding their shape.

Arsenal vs Leeds highlights

Arsenal’s wide players tucked Leeds’ full-backs back into their own half, leaving Gyökeres and Ødegaard free to complement each other in attack. Leeds never set up prolonged attacks; their one or two chances had come from swift counters, but Gabriel and Saliba dealt with most of them in an authoritative manner. By the time Dowman was introduced to win the late penalty, Leeds were dead in the water, physically and tactically.

Arsenal Player Ratings

David Raya – 7/10: Called into action in the first half, less occupied in the second half but still assured on the ball.

Jurrien Timber – 9/10: Took both goals well and made an assist. Defensively strong as always, great performance.

William Saliba – 7/10: Assured on and off the ball.

Gabriel Magalaes – 7/10: Covered the left when Calafiori would venture forward, aggressive and positionally astute.

Ricardo Calafiori – 6/10:Not as maverick offensively, but still had moments.

Martin Zubimendi – 7/10: Controlled tempo in midfield and constantly distributed with speed and intent.

Martin Ødegaard – 5/10: Did not have the time to make an impact on the ball before his injury.

Declan Rice – 7/10: Arsenal’s best set-piece taker, chipped in with an assist and worked tirelessly to retrieve the ball.

Bukayo Saka – 6/10: Well-taken goal on an otherwise quite subdued performance; taken off early in the second half due to a hamstring injury.

Noni Madueke – 6/10: Good energy, certainly performed better once switched to his favoured right-wing position.

Victor Gyökeres – 8/10: Dream home debut: a composed finish for his opener and a coolly slotted penalty.

Ethan Nwaneri – 6/10: Neat and tidy on the ball, though he lacked the penetration in offensive areas.

Leandro Trossard – 5/10: Lethargic from the Belgian, definitely lacks match sharpness.

Cristhian Mosquera – 6/10: A nice run-out where he wasn’t required to defend any real threat.

Myles Lewis-Skelly – 6/10: Looked sharp defensively and very comfortable inverting.

Max Dowman – 7/10: A cameo to remember for the teenager. First thought is to dribble forward and was a constant menace, which eventually lead to winning a penalty.

Leeds United Player Ratings

Lucas Perri – 4/10: Exposed badly by poor defending in front of him; helpless on Arsenal’s finishes.

Jayden Bogle – 4/10: Struggled defensively and offered little going forward.

Joe Rodon – 4/10: Tried to marshal the back line but was overwhelmed by Arsenal’s fluid movement.

Pascal Struijk – 3/10: Caught out by set pieces, especially at corners; positioning poor under pressure.

Gudmundsson – 4/10: Tough day, especially with Dowman’s attacks.

Ao Tanaka – 5/10: Worked hard in midfield but couldn’t disrupt Arsenal’s rotations.

Anton Stach – 4/10: Physically combative but often chasing shadows against Rice and Zubimendi.

Ilia Gruev – 4/10: Couldn’t stem Arsenal’s dominance in midfield.

Dan James – 5/10: Showed pace on the break but with no end product; isolated most of the match.

Wilfried Gnonto – 5/10: Tried to inject energy but lacked support; snuffed out quickly by Saliba.

Joel Piroe – 4/10: Starved of service, isolated and ineffective as the lone forward.

Sam Byram – 4/10: No impact of any note

Sean Longstaff – 4/10: Struggled to influence the midfield battle, kept quiet by Arsenal’s press.

Brenden Aaronson – 4/10: Worked tirelessly off the ball but had no influence creatively.

Noah Okafor – 5/10: Flashes of direct running but rarely found space to trouble Arsenal’s defence.

Lukas Nmecha – 3/10: Anonymous in attack, failed to link play or relieve pressure on the back line.

Man of the Match

In Arsenal’s 5–0 dismantlement of Leeds, Jurrien Timber was superb all around. He scored twice, once with a neat header and once with an accomplished finish and set up a goal for Bukayo Saka. The fact that his overlap running and positioning were so sharp and dominant in the air made him unplayable. He displayed a calm defensive assurance while showing attacking influence on the break. Timber illustrated precisely why he has become such a key figure under Arteta.

Conclusion

Arsenal’s 5–0 thrashing of Leeds was a statement of intent, showcasing their attacking depth, set-piece strength, and fearless youth. Jurriën Timber’s man-of-the-match display highlighted the squad’s versatility, while Viktor Gyökeres and Max Dowman added fresh storylines of their own. Yet, the joy was tempered by injuries to Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard. With Liverpool up next, Arsenal face a test of resilience, but this emphatic win keeps their title ambitions firmly on track.

Leeds United were always going to treat this game as a ‘free hit’; their destiny will lie in the weaker opponents.

Next up, Arsenal face champions Liverpool away, whilst Leeds United will welcome Newcastle United.