Arsenal navigate a tricky tie to make it into the last eight of the EFL Cup then. The Gunners might not be favourites to win the trophy come February but on their day they’ll give the best sides a run for their money. That’s all for now. Goodbye!
Arsenal join Nottingham Forest as the only two sides Bielsa has failed to beat in any of his first four games against them. Leeds weren’t really that bad here, but Arsenal’s greater nous and strength in depth was evident. It was a mature second half by the Gunners, one that will please Arteta greatly.
Arsenal have edged their way into the EFL Cup quarter-finals! Leeds caused the hosts issues in the first half but Arteta’s men smartened up in the second half, nosing themselves ahead through Chambers before sitting in. Once Nketiah capitalised on the visitors’ unforced error, it was game over.
90′ + 4′ FULL-TIME: ARSENAL 2-0 LEEDS UNITED
90′ + 3′ Leeds earn a free-kick down their right. Harrison smashes the rebound into a defender and Gerhardt beats Lokonga before hitting the side netting. Leno takes the goal-kick and that’s it!
90′ + 2′ To their credit Leeds are still trying to score. They’re just not going to.
90′ There’ll be four more minutes of this. Summerville races after Dramek’s ball forward but can’t create a chance of note.
88′ Leeds eventually concede possession and hand Arsenal a goal-kick. Leno’s ball upfield doesn’t trouble Leeds as much as they do themselves. Lacazette robs Phillips and pirouettes into the box, lashing just over the crossbar.
86′ Leeds pass the ball around in their own half but Arsenal are staying in shape. Bielsa’s men look out of ideas.
84′ Leeds have actually had more possession in this half than they did in the first half – they’ve had 58 per cent so far in this second period. Arsenal have stayed compact though and been able to pick the Whites off.
82′ Leeds are still getting the odd chance but nothing to worry Leno. Greenwood twists this way and that to the right of Arsenal’s box before rolling a tame effort into the goalkeeper’s arms.
80′ Harrison is still trying his best for Leeds but it’s not working out. His cross from the right sails over everyone and out for a goal-kick.
78′ Leeds have lost their way in this second half. Phillips demonstrates this fact by knocking a routine pass to Drameh out of play for an Arsenal throw-in and tripping Nketiah to give away a free-kick shortly after.
76′ Arsenal make another defensive substitution. Holding goes off. Tavares is his replacement.
74′ Leeds are huffing and puffing but it feels like the game has decisively swung against them now. Klich’s shot from distance is blocked and Greenwood blasts into Leno’s arms from a difficult angle on the right.
A. Lokonga
Mohamed Elneny
72′ Elneny also gets an early rest. Lokonga takes his place at the base of Arsenal’s midfield.
A. Lacazette
E. Smith Rowe
72′ Now it’s Arsenal’s turn to make a change. Smith Rowe makes way for Lacazette.
S. Greenwood
Rodrigo
70′ Rodrigo also goes off. Greenwood, another Leeds youth product, comes on.
C. Summerville
D. James
70′ Leeds make two more changes as they try to claw their way back into the game. Summerville comes on for James, who may regret not beating Leno when he had the chance earlier.
70′ Nketiah has now scored seven goals in eight appearances in the EFL Cup, including two strikes while on loan at Leeds in 2019-20. The 22-year-old may not have forced himself into Arteta’s first team yet but he’s a useful squad player for Arsenal to have.
E. Nketiah
Goal
69′ GOAL! ARSENAL 2-0 LEEDS UNITED! Leeds haven’t given up but they may be out of this now. Nketiah can’t master Leno’s punt upfield but Leeds fluff the defensive header. Nketiah finds himself one-on-one with Meslier, coolly dinks the ball over the onrushing keeper and rolls it into an empty net.
67′ In typical fashion Leeds haven’t given up yet. Harrison has a speculative effort blocked from the edge of the box. The winger gets a second bite of the cherry and curls the ball straight into the arms of Leno.
65′ Smith Rowe makes a decent run through the middle but Pepe’s pass sends the Englishman a little too far wide to test Meslier.
63′ Dallas trips Elneny in Arsenal’s half. Arsenal have taken control of the game for now.
61′ Arsenal have gone up a gear since the break. Martinelli heads wide from Cedric’s free-kick before Nketiah darts behind Leeds’ back line and forces a decent save from Meslier.
Cédric Soares
Yellow Card
59′ Cedric is booked for bringing down Dallas.
L. Cooper
Diego Llorente
59′ Bielsa reacts to Leeds conceding that goal by making a third change in 15 minutes. Cooper replaces Llorente.
57′ Arsenal have scored with their first shot on target of the half. Leeds don’t really deserve to be behind and yet they are.
N. Pépé
Assist
56′ Pepe kept the corner alive and Leeds weren’t ready for Chambers in the box. You wouldn’t say the goal has been coming but Arsenal have been the better side since half-time.
C. Chambers
Goal
55′ GOAL! ARSENAL 1-0 LEEDS UNITED! Chambers has scored with what must be his first touch! Smith Rowe takes a corner from the left and Nketiah can’t control it. Pepe sends the ball back across goal from the far post and the substitute nods it over the line. Meslier claws it away but the goal will stand!
C. Chambers
B. White
55′ Arsenal make that enforced change. Chambers takes White’s place in the Gunners’ defence.
55′ White is sat down looking glum. The centre-back looks to have picked up an injury and will have to go off. Arteta gives Chambers a pep talk down on the touchline.
J. Gelhardt
T. Roberts
53′ Leeds make another change as Bielsa tweaks his team. Their 19-year-old striker Gelhardt replaces Roberts.
51′ Leeds hack the ball away from Meslier’s goal. They lose out to Arsenal’s press again though and Martinelli rattles a shot against a defender. The offside flag goes up seconds later.
49′ Klich has slotted into midfield in Leeds’ 4-1-4-1 which they’ve been playing since the start. The visitors pop the ball around for a while. Arsenal soon win the ball back though and Maitland-Niles earns his side a corner.
47′ Martinelli stays down after a crunching challenge by Drameh. Leeds sportingly put the ball out of play as the Brazilian gets to his feet.
47′ Leeds get the second half started. If these two teams can’t be separated at the end of 90 minutes, the game will go straight to penalties.
M. Klich
A. Forshaw
46′ Leeds make a substitution at half-time. Klich replaces Forshaw. It’s unclear whether this is due to injury or purely tactical.
Leeds haven’t won any of their previous three games against Arsenal under Bielsa. They’ve got a decent chance of victory here at the moment though, having successfully got in behind the hosts a few times. Arteta’s men need to stay focused in the second half if they’re to avoid an unceremonious defeat.
Arsenal and Leeds will be pleased with how those opening 45 minutes went. This game may not have a goal yet but it’s still been engaging. Both teams’ goalkeepers have been called into action, although Leno has had slightly more to do. More to come!
45′ + 1′ HALF-TIME: ARSENAL 0-0 LEEDS UNITED
45′ The officials indicate there’ll be one minute of time added onto the end of this first half.
44′ Arsenal keep Leeds pinned in their half and get yet another corner kick which is uneventful. James wins a free-kick as he’s blocked by Cedric.
42′ Now it’s Arsenal’s turn to attack. Nketiah keeps their latest corner in play at the far post and the hosts fling the ball back into the danger area. Smith Rowe spanks wildly over the crossbar from the edge of the box when Pepe’s header lands to him.
40′ Leeds stream forward once more and Roberts heads wide from the centre of the box as he reaches Harrison’s cross. This is an entertaining tussle at the moment.
38′ Arsenal have another corner but achieve little with it. Leeds have shaded possession so far. They’ve also had more shots than Arsenal: seven to the hosts’ four.
36′ Arsenal survive the corner but Leeds’ direct passing is troubling Arsenal. The visitors move through midfield in two passes and Rodrigo finds himself running through on goal. Leno spots the danger early and wins the footrace to clear.
34′ James takes down a forward pass with ease and Leeds move quickly from right to left. Roberts shifts onto his right foot to shoot in the box and his shot takes a deflecton for a Leeds corner.
33′ Leeds’ full-backs are playing ridiculously high when they play out from the back. It’s leaving them at risk when Arsenal press, which they do and force another corner.
31′ Arsenal come on the attack again, trying to force the issue. Smith Rowe loses possession down the Gunners’ right. This has been a keenly fought affair so far.
29′ White tries to play his way out from the back and is frustrated to be impeded by Rodrigo. Leeds stream forward after a turnover of possession but James can’t find the right pass to trouble Arsenal again.
28′ Leeds get another corner and again win the second ball. This time James gets a free pop at goal from the edge of the box but it’s tame and Leno catches it easily. Still, Arsenal have been warned.
27′ Leeds give Leno work to do again as they win a corner of their own. Arsenal can’t head it out entirely and Harrison aims for the bottom right corner. The Gunners’ goalkeeper dives low to keep it from finding the net.
26′ Leeds go hunting from Arsenal’s corner. Maitland-Niles positions himself well to stop James’ cross.
25′ Arsenal earn a free-kick near the touchline. Cedric takes it. Leeds get to it first but the rebound lands to Pepe whose shot is blocked for a corner.
T. Roberts
Yellow Card
23′ Roberts gets the game’s first yellow card for a poor tackle on White.
21′ Leeds are livening up. Harrison, finding himself on the right, darts inside and floats a harmless ball over everyone in the Arsenal box.
19′ Chance for Leeds! James latches onto a ball over the top and finds himself one-on-one with Leno. The German rushes off his line to close James down and block the Welshman’s shot. Pepe jinks into the box shortly after only to blaze high and wide.
17′ Rodrigo strays offside as he tries to run onto Forshaw’s throughball. Arsenal are playing a high line and Leeds are clearly trying to take advantage of it.
16′ Leeds’ corner doesn’t lead to anything as Struijk nods wide. These two teams are fairly evenly matched so far, although Arsenal are faring slightly better.
14′ Arsenal don’t let up and they win another corner. Cedric’s attempt is poor though. Rodrigo teases his way into the box and plays a one-two with Roberts. Roberts’ shot clatters against a defender and goes out for a corner.
13′ Leeds’ attempt to play out from the back ends in them giving Arsenal a cheap throw-in. Pepe cuts onto his favoured left foot and Dallas sticks a foot in to prevent him from getting a cross in.
11′ Arsenal get a second corner which Leeds manage to clear. Pepe looks to beat his man down the right but can’t keep his footing.
10′ Maitland-Niles arrives first to Nketiah’s flick on, taking a tumble in the box. The ball falls for Kolasinac and the Bosnian left-back forces a decent stop from Meslier at his near post, earning Arsenal a corner.
9′ Phillips plays a sliderule pass for Rodrigo that almost pays off. It doesn’t though and Arsenal counter. Leeds soon get back to tidy up.
8′ James’ foray down the wing for Leeds doesn’t lead to a shooting opportunity. Bielsa is in his familiar position, on his haunches in the technical area.
6′ Nketiah drags a shot wide of Meslier’s goal from the left of the box. Arsenal are looking perky so far.
4′ Harrison takes an ambitious shot from range that cannons against an Arsenal defender. The hosts swiftly break but Nketiah can’t find a teammate with his ball in.
2′ Pepe darts down the right and Dallas nips in to block the Frenchman’s cross. Arsenal get the first corner of the game which Leeds clear comfortably after blocking Holding’s header.
1′ The teams take the knee and Arsenal get this game going!
The players are out on the pitch at the Emirates. Arsenal are wearing their traditional red shirts and white shorts. Leeds are in their dark blue away kit.
This is the first meeting between Arsenal and Leeds in the EFL Cup since September 1979 when the Gunners won 7-0 at Highbury, their biggest ever win in the competition. Leeds have won just three of their 12 domestic cup ties against Arsenal historically. A victory here would definitely boost their morale.
Mikel Arteta makes nine changes to the Arsenal team that saw off Aston Villa. White and Smith Rowe lead a strong second string, while former Leeds loanee Nketiah leads the line. The rotation-shy Bielsa brings in four new players from Leeds’ 1-1 draw with Wolves. 19-year-old defender Drameh makes his Leeds debut.
SUBS: Kristoffer Klaesson, Leo Fuhr Hjelde, Crysencio Summerville, Joe Gelhardt, Charlie Cresswell, Stuart McKinstry, Mateusz Klich, Sam Greenwood, Liam Cooper.
LEEDS UNITED (3-3-3-1): Illan Meslier; Cody Drameh, Pascal Struijk, Diego Llorente; Stuart Dallas (c), Kalvin Phillips, Adam Forshaw; Daniel James, Tyler Roberts, Jack Harrison; Rodrigo Moreno.
SUBS: Albert Sambi Lokonga, Alexandre Lacazette, Aaron Ramsdale, Folarin Balogun, Nuno Tavares, Bukayo Saka, Thomas Partey, Calum Chambers.
ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Bernd Leno; Cedric Soares, Rob Holding (c), Ben White, Sead Kolasinac; Mohamed Elneny, Ainsley Maitland-Niles; Nicolas Pepe, Emile Smith Rowe, Gabriel Martinelli; Eddie Nketiah.
Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds may have lost some of their lustre from last season but are still a capable outfit. The Whites will be keen to make it into the EFL Cup last eight for just the second time in the last nine seasons. They last did so in 2016-17.
Fresh from defeating Aston Villa here 3-1 in the Premier League last week, Arsenal now welcome Leeds to the Emirates. The Gunners will have to be at their best to make it to the quarter-finals, having come unstuck at home against Premier League sides in three of the last five seasons.
Hello! Welcome to our live text commentary of this EFL Cup fourth round match between Arsenal and Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium.
Nuno Tavares
R. Holding