Arsenal Put Five Past Leeds As Viktor Gyökeres Stars

Arsenal Put Five Past Leeds As Viktor Gyökeres Stars

The Emirates was rocking as Arsenal swept Leeds aside 5–0, and while new arrival Eberechi Eze drew the pre-match spotlight, it was Viktor Gyökeres who seized centre stage with his first goals for the club.

• Arsenal Striker Viktor Gyökeres – "We Are on the Right Path."

From the outset, Arsenal played with an authority that underlined their intent for the new campaign. Jurrien Timber, steadily becoming one of Mikel Arteta’s most reliable outlets in both penalty areas, opened the scoring with a towering header from a corner.

Minutes later, Timber turned provider, slipping a clever pass into the path of Bukayo Saka, who rifled home Arsenal’s second. Saka’s strike had the crowd roaring, though the joy was tempered when the winger was forced off injured in the second half.

Still, Arsenal found fresh inspiration in their new No. 9. Gyökeres, recruited to add firepower to an already potent frontline, produced a clinical finish midway through the second half, drifting into the box before burying a low effort beyond Lucas Perri. It was the sort of striker’s instinct Arsenal fans have been craving.

• Rio Ferdinand’s Verdict: Viktor Gyokeres Can Thrive at Arsenal.

Timber struck again with another set-piece routine, further demonstrating how rehearsed details can be as deadly as open-play combinations. But the final act of the day belonged to Gyökeres.

Introduced late in the match, 15-year-old Max Dowman immediately drew a foul in the box, and the Swede stepped up to dispatch the penalty with supreme confidence, completing a brace that should boost his standing instantly among the Arsenal faithful.

Leeds, for their part, never looked able to cope with the pace or precision of their hosts. Their only genuine chance came when Pascal Struijk saw his header parried by David Raya, a rare moment of discomfort in an otherwise one-sided contest.

There were shadows amid the sunshine as captain Martin Ødegaard limped off during his 200th appearance, and Saka’s withdrawal will set alarm bells ringing for Arteta.

Injuries derailed last season’s title chase, and the sight of two key players leaving the pitch hurt will dampen some of the jubilation.

Even so, Arsenal supporters left the ground with a sense that this squad, bolstered by smart recruitment and young talent, can match ambition with execution.

Eze’s grand unveiling hinted at what is to come, but on this occasion, it was Gyökeres’ finishing that defined the story - Arsenal have a new striker, and he has announced himself in emphatic style.