Arsenal came from behind to beat Leeds United 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium, with Riccardo Calafiori and substitute Bruno Guimarães turning the game around in eight second-half minutes as the champions returned to winning ways after the international break.
Match facts
- Result: Arsenal 2-1 Leeds United (half-time 0-0)
- Competition: Premier League, Matchweek 6
- Venue: Emirates Stadium, London
- Attendance: 60,315
- Scorers: Arsenal - Calafiori 62', Guimarães 70'; Leeds United - Justin 55'
- Red cards: None
- Next: Arsenal host Lille in the Champions League on Tuesday, then visit Nottingham Forest on Sunday
How the match unfolded
After a 3-0 home defeat to Brighton before the break, Arsenal looked short of rhythm for most of the opening hour. Leeds, unbeaten in the league and organised in a compact block, created the clearer chances.
David Raya denied Gabriel Gudmundsson at close range shortly before half-time and earlier recovered to claim an Ethan Ampadu looping header after he had rushed off his line. Anton Stach's volley from Gudmundsson's delivery also struck team-mate Jayden Bogle and spun clear.
Ten minutes into the second half the visitors' pressure told. Gudmundsson drove down the left and pulled a low ball across the six-yard box; James Justin arrived at the far post and slammed a first-time finish past Raya, with Gabriel Magalhães unable to clear off the line. It was Leeds' first league goal at Arsenal since their return to the top flight, and it ended a long wait for an away lead at this ground.
Arsenal responded within seven minutes. Noni Madueke lofted a deep cross to the back post, Ben White headed it back across goal, and Calafiori's close-range effort squirmed past James Trafford for 1-1.
Mikel Arteta immediately introduced Guimarães, Viktor Gyökeres and Jurriën Timber. The midfielder finished the turnaround in the 70th minute: Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka combined, Declan Rice backheeled the ball into Guimarães' path on the edge of the area, and the summer signing drilled into the bottom corner for his first Emirates Stadium goal.
Arsenal almost added a third when Rice's cut-back ricocheted towards Ødegaard yards out, but Trafford gathered, and the Leeds goalkeeper later denied Saka in stoppage time. Leeds could not find an equaliser after Justin's opener sparked their best spell of the afternoon.
What the win means
The result lifts Arsenal level on 15 points with leaders Manchester City, who travel to Anfield to face Liverpool on Sunday. Five wins from six leaves the champions second only on goal difference after repairing the damage of the Brighton loss.
Leeds suffered their first Premier League defeat of the season after an unbeaten start under Daniel Farke. They remain well placed in the upper half and produced a performance that, for an hour, matched the champions for intensity and organisation.
Arsenal stay at the Emirates on Tuesday night against Lille in the Champions League before the trip to Nottingham Forest.