IT’S AUBA AND OUT
Hitman Aubameyang grabs hat-trick as keeper Meslier gifts it to Gunners
AT TIMES you had to watch this through your fingers.
If Arsenal are in the middle of a fortnight that will shape their season, this demolition of Leeds was the way to start.
Benfica to follow in the Europa League and Manchester City and Leicester in the Premier League will represent a huge step up in class for Mikel Arteta’s men.
To call it a Valentine’s Day massacre is too glib and does not provide the full picture because Marcelo Bielsa’s side turned the guns on themselves with a series of mistakes in the opening period. PierreEmerick Aubameyang – by his imperious standards – has struggled for goals this season, but he filled his boots to clinch the match ball before some TV viewers had come back from their half-time cup of tea.
By then Illan Meslier, 20, had gift-wrapped the points to the Gunners.
His goal-kick for the first goal was weak and landed at the feet of defender Hector Bellerin, who began a move that ended with Aubameyang cutting in from the left and rifling the ball home.
Leeds were then lucky to have a penalty shout overturned. Liam Cooper leaned into the excellent Bukayo Saka, referee Stuart Attwell pointed to the spot but had a rethink after VAR Andre Marriner intervened.
Enter Meslier, again. The Leeds goalkeeper shaped as if to pass to Cooper, only to change his mind.
Saka robbed him, Meslier brought him down and Aubameyang’s penalty made it 200 goals in Europe’s top five leagues on the way to his first hat-trick in the top flight for Arsenal. The third goal on the stroke of half-time was a cracker. Saka, Aubameyang, Martin Odegaard and Dani Ceballos combined before Bellerin powered the ball in.
Bielsa sent on Tyler Roberts and Helder Costa for the second period but the latter was caught in possession for the goal that made it 4-0.
Cedric Soares picked his pocket, Emile Smith Rowe curled the ball towards goal and Aubameyang nodded it in at the back post.
David Luiz went to sleep at a corner to allow Pascal Struijk to head in for Leeds with 32 minutes left before Costa struck after being set up by Roberts.
Truth be told, however, it could have been worse for the visitors, much worse.
Aubameyang hit the crossbar on 75 minutes and Saka survived an offside shout to curl the ball past Meslier, only to strike the post.
Leeds have now lost their past seven Premier League games in London.
But after two losses out of three, Arsenal are firmly back in business – particularly Aubameyang.
ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Leno 6; Bellerin 8, Luiz 6, Gabriel 6, Soares 7; Ceballos 8 (Holding 89), Xhaka 7; Smith Rowe 7 (Willian 62, 5), Odegaard 7 (Elneny 77), Saka 8, Aubameyang 9. Goals: Aubameyang 13, 41 pen, 47, Bellerin 45.
LEEDS (4-1-4-1): Meslier 3; Shackleton 4, Ayling 4, Cooper 4, Alioski 4 (Huggins 52, 6); Struijk 6; Raphinha 6, Dallas 4, Klich 5 (Roberts 45, 7), Harrison 5 (Costa 45, 7); Bamford 5.
Goals: Struijk 58, Costa 69.