Gabriel Martinelli bagged a brace as Arsenal thrashed Leeds United, who only had nine senior players available on Saturday evening.
Teams: Leeds 1-4 Arsenal
Date: 18 December 2021
Venue: Ellan Road
Gunners manager Mikel Arteta left Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of the squad for a third straight game, while Leeds' injury problems saw the bench filled with teenagers, including 15-year-old Archie Gray.
The away side should have been ahead inside five minutes when Illan Meslier parried Alexandre Lacazette's shot into the path of Bukayo Saka, who fired wide the net gaping.
Arsenal got their reward on 15 minutes when Lacazette dispossessed Adam Forshaw and Gabriel Martinelli reacted quickest to fire past Meslier with a powerful strike.
It was 2-0 not too long after, as the Gunners caught Leeds on the break as Martinelli was slipped in and calmly lobbed the ball over the on-rushing Meslier to complete his brace.
Leeds unfortunately had no answer for the fluid Gunners attack, who went on to grab a third goal three minutes before the break as well worked passing move ended with Saka firing home at the near post via a deflection.
The Gunners continued pushing for more goals in the second half, but it was Leeds who had more of the possession although chances were hard to come by in the final third.
Leeds were given a lifeline on 73rd minute after being awarded a penalty for Ben White's foul on Joe Gelhardt, which allowed Raphinha to make it 3-1 from the penalty spot.
However, Emile Smith-Rowe sealed the win for the away side with seven minutes left on the lock with a first-time volley from Odegaard's pass as Arteta's side cemented fourth spot.
