XMAS GIFT O F THE

Martinelli’s double for Arteta sees Bielsa rocked yet again

DAVID LYNCH

ARSENAL strengthened their topfour credentials and piled more misery on Leeds at Elland Road.

A Gabriel Martinelli brace and a goal from Bukayo Saka handed the Gunners a healthy halftime lead, which they added to through Emile Smith Rowe late on after Raphinha had scored a penalty.

Victory gives Mikel Arteta’s side a four-point cushion in the final

Champions League qualification spot having played a game more than London rivals West Ham.

Their hosts, meanwhile, are left looking over their shoulder with just five points separating them from the relegation zone and a daunting trip to Liverpool up next.

With Arsenal untouched by injuries or Covid, Arteta (right) had the luxury of naming an unchanged line-up for the fourth consecutive game.

Marcelo Bielsa was not as fortunate, however, with Leeds forced to name a patched-up XI in the absence of eight senior players.

The extent of the hosts’ problems was perhaps best underlined by the presence of 15-year-old Archie Gray – the greatnephew of Whites legend Eddie – on the bench.

Despite their limited resources, Leeds started the brighter and carved out the first chance from a corner that was headed over Raphinha.

But that opportunity was quickly followed by a period of ceaseless Arsenal pressure that saw

Alexandre Lacazette and Thomas Partey force impressive saves from Illan Meslier and Saka pass an easy chance wide.

That period of early domination did eventually subside but, just as it looked like the hosts were finding their feet, Arsenal struck.

The visitors didn’t have to do much to create the chance, Leeds surrendering the ball in the box as Adam Forshaw tried to dribble his way out of trouble.

And, after the midfielder was dispossessed by Lacazette, the ball fell kindly for Martinelli to run on for a first-time finish into the far top corner.

Leeds responded well and would have been level almost immediately had Raphinha done better than drilling wide after working a shooting position in the box following a quick break.

Unfortunately for the hosts, that misstep was quickly punished, Martinelli doubling his personal tally with a cool finish from a slide-rule

Granit Xhaka pass after Arsenal had won possession in midfield.

There was no rally this time, either, with Leeds giving up chance after chance before Saka sent a deflected effort past Meslier for 3-0 before halftime.

Whatever Bielsa said during the break, it appeared to have the effect of making his team far less easy to play through at the start of the second period.

And Leeds even had more real moments of promise at the other end,

most notably when Mateusz Klich rolled a delicious low ball across the box that deserved to be tapped in. Arsenal’s advantage was such that they did not need to overextend themselves, however, and they responded by enjoying some lengthy spells of possession that took the sting out of the game.

It was one such passage of play that in fact almost led to Saka grabbing a second, the Englishman shooting narrowly wide after a swift exchange with Martinelli just past the hour mark.

Arsenal’s complete control of matters only made Ben White’s decision to go to ground in challenging Joe Gelhardt with 15 minutes remaining all the more inexplicable.

The Gunners defender was rightly punished by way of a penalty kick, which Raphinha emphatically dispatched to seemingly set up an interesting end to a game that had seemed to be fizzling out.

A grandstand finish failed to materialise, though, with Arsenal putting the result beyond all doubt when substitute Smith Rowe powered home a Martin Odegaard through ball.

That left the Gunners to celebrate a victory that puts them in firm control of the race for that all-important fourthplaced finish at Christmas.

Leeds, meanwhile, must turn their thoughts to a Boxing Day visit to Anfield to take on title-chasing Liverpool.

Martinelli said: “It was a very good result. It was away and so important for the team.

“We are happy with the work and result as well.

“This is what Mikel asks when we go in the final third, to be dangerous.

“We have a young team but strong and very good players – Emile came off the bench and scored.”