Leeds star: Arsenal are “a really good team” | OneFootball

Pascal Struijk said his side held firm early on but could not cope once Arsenal broke through, praising their quality and set-piece threat.

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Pascal Struijk admitted Leeds had little answer to Arsenal’s quality after their 5-0 defeat at the Emirates, describing Mikel Arteta’s side as “a really good team”.

Speaking to LUTV after the game, the Leeds defender said: “Over the last few years we’ve seen where they have finished in the season, so they are a really good team.

“I feel like we were good and solid until around minute 35 when we conceded at the set-piece. You look at the record they have set-pieces and they’re a pretty good team.

“We were just a bit unfortunate to go in at half-time having conceded for two-nil. I just feel that changed the momentum going in. It was never going to be easy coming here, I feel like they’re a title competing team, so it was always going to be tough.

“We can’t dwell on it too much because we’ve got a quick turnaround,” he added with Leeds set to play Sheffield Wednesday in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.

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Leeds resisted for half an hour before Arsenal’s dominance told. Jurriën Timber broke the deadlock with a firm header from a corner, before Bukayo Saka doubled the advantage in stoppage time at the end of the first half.

The England international’s strike arrived shortly before he suffered a hamstring injury that forced him off in the second half, raising fresh concern after months out last season with a similar issue in his other leg.

Earlier, captain Martin Ødegaard had also been forced off after landing heavily on his shoulder, a setback that also casts doubt on his availability for next weekend’s trip to Liverpool. “It’s not great news,” Arteta said afterwards. “We’ll have to scan him tomorrow and understand a bit better.”

If injuries clouded Arsenal’s afternoon, the football did not. Timber added his second goal shortly after Viktor Gyökeres scored his first for the club, a powerful low finish that flew past Lucas Perri.

The Swedish striker completed his brace from the penalty spot in added time after 15-year-old debutant Max Dowman was brought down in the area.