Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta makes Man United comment saying Arsenal are ‘really lucky’ with Leeds win | football | sports

[ad_1]

Arsenal “put pressure” on Manchester United by beating Leeds United, according to coach Mikel Arteta. Arsenal and Leeds were the only two Premier League teams to play on Saturday with COVID-19 after it wrecked the Premier League and canceled the other five scheduled matches. The 4-1 win at Elland Road puts the visitors five points ahead of United in the table and Arteta felt his team was “lucky” to play at all given the worrisome situation across the country.

United have two games on hand, away at Brentford and at home against Brighton, as the coronavirus has postponed the last two games.

Arsenal took full advantage, racking up three wins in three over the past seven days with a superb first-half performance that inspired their victory in West Yorkshire.

Arsenal were subjected to rioting in the first 45 minutes with 11 shots on target, the most any team has seen in the first half of a Premier League match in the past six seasons.

Gabriel Martinelli, who had replaced the outcast Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, scored twice in 12 minutes before Bukayo Saka made it 3-0 before the break thanks to a rebound.

But the visitors’ performance fell several levels after the break and Leeds improved, cutting the difference through Ravenha’s penalty after Ben White interfered against his former team.

However, Emile Smith Rowe scored from the bench for the second game in a row, in what was Arsenal’s only second-half shot on target, to score a win that puts him four points away from West Ham in last place in the Champions League.

Meanwhile, United are five points behind Arsenal although they could leapfrog their north London rival in the top four race if they win their two overtime matches.

After the match, Arteta told BBC Sport: “It’s been a really tough week but really positive with the performance and the results. We have to be happy today.

“that they [the players] They had to play the most physically fit team in the league and they had to be prepared. that they [the younger players] They learn and make a difference in the game. The big players are also playing a big role.”

Asked if it was very important for his team to claim the three points given that none of their opponents were in the match, Arteta said: “Sure. That puts pressure on them.

“We were really lucky to play today with everything that’s going on. I asked the players to enjoy the game and give everything because I don’t know how this will develop.”

Arsenal, Arsenal’s arch-rival, is in the top four competitions and hopes to transfer four points from Arsenal with three games in hand with a victory over Liverpool on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Martinelli has scored three goals in his last two games after the first-half brace against Leeds and Arteta believes the 20-year-old is improving quickly, especially mentally.

He added, “This is what it is [Gabriel Martinelli] He can. He has reached maturity. He is willing to learn. His passion for life is football. You can see that on the field.”

England international Smith Rowe, 21, has scored seven goals in the Premier League this season after scoring his third goal in as many matches. Arteta was keen to highlight the outputs of the academy graduate.

“[Smith Rowe has scored] And he added, “Seven in the league is a special number, we wanted him to add it to his game.”

Top scorer Martinelli told Sky Sports after the match: “It was a very good result. It was far away and very important for the team. We are happy with the work and the result too. That’s what Mikel asked when we go in the final. The third to be dangerous.”

“It’s good that he is [Alexandre Lacazette] The central defender tracks down and I get a chance to be late. It was a great pass from Granite [Xhaka]Thanks to him too. It was two good goals.

“We have a young team but a very strong and good player. As you can see today Emile came off the bench and scored a goal.”

Arsenal are set to return to action against Sunderland, third-placed in the First League, in the League Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday evening (7.45pm).

[ad_2]