In Saturday’s only Premier League match, Arsenal thrashed a depleted Leeds 4-1 to strengthen their grip on Premier League’s top four.
Two goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka’s deflected strike put the Gunners 3-0 up before half-time.
Raphinha’s penalty pulled a goal back, but Emile Smith Rowe rounded off a miserable week for Leeds after Tuesday’s 7-0 thrashing at Manchester City.
Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa described his side’s performance at the Etihad in midweek as the worst in his four years in charge, and there was no sign of any improvement from his injury-hit squad.
The Elland Road crowd remained behind the Argentine as they chanted his name in the closing stages.
Bielsa was without England internationals Kalvin Phillips and Patrick Bamford, captain Liam Cooper and Spain forward Rodrigo amid an injury crisis that saw 15-year-old Archie Gray earn a spot on the bench.
Arsenal moved into the top four for the first time in more than a year with a victory over West Ham on Wednesday and opened up a four-point gap on the chasing pack for a place in next season’s Champions League.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was absent once more for the Gunners after being stripped of the captaincy by Mikel Arteta for a disciplinary breach.
His absence has given Martinelli the chance of a consistent run of Premier League starts for the first time since the bright start to his Arsenal career was interrupted by a series of knee injuries in June 2020.
3 – In Gabriel Martinelli (20), Bukayo Saka (20) and Emile Smith Rowe (21), Arsenal have had three different players aged 21 or younger score for them in a single Premier League game for the very first time (excl. own goals). Talents. pic.twitter.com/PhXER40uTT
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 18, 2021
The Brazilian has scored four times in his last six games as Arsenal kept the UCL hopes alive going to the final fixtures of December.
The hosts at least showed some spirit in the second period and should have been playing against 10 men when Xhaka escaped a red card for a stamp on Raphinha’s ankle.
The Brazilian, who has now has scored eight of Leeds’ 18 goals this season, fired home a penalty into the top corner after Joe Gelhardt had been brought down by Ben White 15 minutes from time.
Arsenal have blown the lead in their last two away league games at Manchester United and Everton, but there was no collapse this time.