LONDON — There was, in the end, a glimmer of light amid the gloom. Bruno Guimarães‘ 70th-minute strike gave Arsenal a 2-1 win over Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium on an afternoon when the Premier League returned to action under a cloud.
How could it not? This is the first game in England’s top flight since it was rocked to the core by Manchester City‘s guilty verdict on 114 counts of breaching the league’s financial rules. While City appeal the verdict and the world awaits the outcome followed by a possible sanction, the game must continue in this state of flux and uncertainty.
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You could be forgiven for thinking it contributed to Arsenal’s slow start here. There are a number of more routine explanations for it. The first game back after a prolonged international break can often lead to a disruption in rhythm. Some players had picked up injuries on international duty — including Kai Havertz — while others like Declan Rice had not played a game for almost three weeks.
There is also the Saturday lunchtime kickoff, famous for suiting a TV audience but less so the players and fans in attendance. Atmospheres are often flat as a result.
But it is also the first game in a new era, one in which many presume City’s guilt will be determined beyond appeal and the punishment, at the very least, effectively ruling them out of this season’s title race.
That leaves Arsenal in an especially curious position. They are the champions, favorites to fill the void City look likely to vacate on a permanent basis. But until we know for sure what the new landscape looks like — and, again, City remain confident the existing order will remain on the basis their appeal will be successful — we are all uncertain as to what any of this even means.
This win closes the gap on City and turns up the pressure on their trip to Liverpool on Sunday. Or does it? If City are to be docked an inestimable number of points, are in fact Arsenal extending their own lead at the top? This is the perpetual uncertainty that hangs over the top of the English game now.
Whatever the reason, Arsenal labored early on. Havertz’s 21st-minute header, comfortably saved by James Trafford, was their first shot of any description in the match. The last time they went so long in a Premier League home game was a year ago.
They were caught offside four times in the opening 16 minutes, twice with players committing the cardinal sin of looking along the line as they received the ball and still offside. Misplaced passes yielded groans in the crowd which grew louder with more misplaced passes.
Leeds deserved their lead when it came on 55 minutes. Gabriel Gudmundsson crossed from the left and, as David Raya dived and failed to cut it out, James Justin finished expertly high into the net.
Arsenal’s response created that glimmer of light. Riccardo Calafiori continued his impressive start to the season in the final third with a close-range finish to equalize, his fifth goal involvement in ten appearances for the Gunners and Italy this season.
And then came Guimarães. Arsenal finally produced some of their free-flowing best as Martin Ødegaard fed Rice, whose clever back-flick found Guimarães in space on the edge of the box and he finished low past Trafford.
Guimarães’ introduction came as part of a triple change which included Jurriën Timber and Viktor Gyökeres. The trio cost £176 million in transfer fees, supplemented by further late changes with Piero Hincapié (£34 million) and Mikel Merino (£32 million) introduced. It is a strength in depth few teams — if any — can match.
This was also a response to Arsenal’s insipid 3-0 loss at Brighton & Hove Albion in their previous game, something Arteta referenced repeatedly afterward.
“We knew it was going to be really tough today,” he said. “We are coming from three weeks without 16 players after a heavy defeat and we had all these things in the tummy.
“Today we had two objectives: face the challenge because Leeds haven’t lost in the Premier League and they’re in a great position because they fully deserved it. And secondly because we had a point to prove something was touched in our identity against Brighton, especially in the manner that we reacted after being in a difficult situation.
“They are incredibly dangerous and we got into a situation with 12:30 [kickoff] at home after a defeat, it is a bad mixture. We got out of that through touching again and proving our desire to win.”
Leeds boss Daniel Farke concurred, adding: “It is down to the mentality Mikel has created here that even on a tough day, they find a way to win the game.”
And so, eventually, Arsenal were able to celebrate. Frustration gave way to relief in the stands as Guimarães marked his home debut with a contribution that promises so much more to come.
The beauty of what Arsenal put together in that winning goal is an example of the joy this game can give, the essence of its global appeal. That is what every supporter must cling to until this City cloud clears.
