Arsenal 5-0 Leeds: Gyökeres off the mark as Timber double seals five-star win

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FromTheSpot

·24 Agustus 2025

Arsenal 5-0 Leeds: Gyökeres off the mark as Timber double seals five-star win

Arsenal marked their first home match of the Premier League season with a dominant 5-0 victory over Leeds United. Viktor Gyökeres struck twice on his Emirates debut and Jurriën Timber also netted a brace from set pieces.

The Gunners were two goals up at the interval thanks to the Dutchman’s header and Bukayo Saka’s fine finish, before Gyökeres opened his Arsenal account with a powerful strike early in the second half. Timber added his second soon after, before 15-year-old debutant Max Dowman won a stoppage-time penalty which the new Arsenal number 14 converted to complete the rout.

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Mikel Arteta’s side now have two wins from two to start the campaign, but injuries to captain Martin Ødegaard and star winger Saka offered a note of concern amid the celebrations. Leeds, meanwhile, struggled to find a foothold in the game for long spells and created very little beyond a first-half header from Pascal Struijk.

As it happened

With the Emirates buoyant after the pre-match unveiling of new signing Eberechi Eze, Arsenal dominated possession but struggled to carve out any clear-cut chances. Their only real early chance fell to Gyökeres, who dragged wide after Martin Zubimendi won the ball back high.

Leeds’ clearest sight of goal came midway through the first half, when Struijk’s towering header from a corner forced David Raya into an excellent reflex save. However, it was Arsenal who struck first, once again through a superb set piece. Declan Rice’s whipped corner found Timber, who guided his header into the far corner to put the hosts ahead after 34 minutes.

Arsenal doubled their advantage in first-half stoppage time. More intense pressing from The Gunners allowed Rice to regain possession high up the pitch, and Timber threaded a clever pass through to Saka. He took the ball on his weaker foot, and unleashed a stunning strike into the top corner to make it 2-0 at the break.

Two minutes into the second half, the Emirates erupted again, as Gyökeres announced himself in emphatic fashion. Latching onto Riccardo Calafiori’s lofted ball down the left channel, the Swedish striker powered into the area. He showed good close control before drilling a low finish inside the near post. Of course, what followed was his trademark mask celebration.

The afternoon took a sour turn moments later when Saka went down holding his hamstring and was forced off, after Martin Ødegaard had also been withdrawn with an issue in the first half. Yet, Arsenal showed no sign of slowing down. Another Rice corner created the fourth goal as Timber’s first header was blocked, but the Dutch defender reacted quickly to poke the rebound into the net and claim his second of the afternoon.

The loudest cheer of the day came when 15-year-old Dowman replaced Noni Madueke to become Arsenal’s second-youngest ever player, behind Ethan Nwaneri. Showing immediate confidence and trickery, the winger looked to take on his man and get shots away at every opportunity. His direct running won Arsenal a penalty in stoppage time after a foul from Anton Stach, allowing Gyökeres to step up and blast his second of the game from the spot. This put the seal on a commanding 5-0 victory which sees Arsenal on top of the Premier League.

Arsenal will reflect on an almost perfect home opener. A new superstar signing introduced, their big-money striker off the mark, a continuation of their set-piece threat, and a new teenage talent emerging. Yet Mikel Arteta will be concerned about the fitness of Ødegaard and Saka, particularly with a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool looming next weekend.

For Leeds, it was a tough evening. Their defensive frailties were exposed, and they offered little attacking threat. Daniel Farke’s side may not have expected to take much from one of the toughest fixtures of the season, but must regroup quickly, with another difficult game against Newcastle up next.