Champions League draws closer for Arsenal, winners of Leeds

Arsenal punish Leeds and edge closer to the Champions League. Six years later, the Gunners may finally hold a new qualification for the most prestigious of European stages, authors of a fourth success in a row built at the Emirates on Sunday against Leeds, during the 36th day of the Premier League (2 -1). A victory facilitated by the feverishness of well timored Peacocks, like a faulty Illan Meslier on the opening of the score of Eddie Nketiah (5th), also author of a double (10th).

Outnumbered after the expulsion of Luke Ayling (27th), the Whites reduced the mark through Diego Llorente (66th). Despite this, Leeds suffered a second setback in a row and slipped into the red zone (18th, 34 points). Arsenal can for its part validate its qualification during the London derby, against Tottenham next Thursday (May 12).

Elusive Martinelli, unforgivable Ayling

Two formations had ambitions in the game on this Sunday afternoon bathed in the rays of a bright sun above London. On the one hand, Gunners eager to find the joys of the top 4, facing the worst defense in the kingdom (72 goals conceded before the meeting), threatened to switch to relegation. After a few thrilling minutes, the Whites folded following a big error on the raise. On an unsteady transmission from Luke Ayling, Illan Meslier was surprised by the high and aggressive pressure of Eddie Nketiah, scorer after five short minutes of play.

Served ideally by the very restless Gabriel Martinelli a few minutes later, the Englishman was quick to cross his shot and sign his 4th goal of the season (10th). A cannon start from the premises personified by the dynamism of Martinelli, untenable on his left lane. Surely too much for an Ayling guilty of a freakout and author of a tackle with both feet up on the twirling Brazilian. After review of the VAR, the captain of the Peacocks is logically expelled (27th).

Reduced to ten and trailing by two goals, the visitors went through the first act like lost souls (zero shots attempted at the break). A worrying apathy in no way erased on the return from the locker room, as proof with yet another borderline intervention by the Whites’ defense, in front of a reassuring Meslier this Sunday (48th). Serene and managerial, the Londoners had the unpleasant surprise of seeing Leeds reduce the mark on their first attempt of the match, following their first corner. Opportunistic at the back post, Diego Llorente took advantage of a discount from Junior Firpo to send a first thrill in the spans of the Emirates (66th). With the cramped Martinelli out and the only Martin Odegaard to step up the game and delight the crowds, Arsenal made it difficult for them late in the game.

Arsenal offer themselves a joker in the race for the top 4

Rodrigo was precisely not far from extinguishing a long-term London setting towards Meslier, but the head of the Spaniard lacked a bit of everything (90th + 3). Despite a few scares here and there, the Gunners (4th, 66 points) chained a fourth success in a row and offered themselves a joker of choice in the race for the top 4, before heading to Tottenham next Thursday for a London derby which volcanic announcement. For its part, Leeds (18th, 34 points) slips into the red zone and expects to experience a most stressful end of the year.