Mikel Arteta confirms racial abuse allegation in Arsenal win at Leeds

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Leeds are bracing for a Premier League probe after Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta confirms some of his players were racially abused by a fan in his side’s 4-1 win at Elland Road .

Gabriel Martinelli’s brace in the first half and new goals from Bukayo Saka and substitute Emile Smith Rowe secured Arteta’s impressive side a third consecutive league victory.

The Gunners conceded against an exhausted Leeds side, who were without 10 first-team players due to injuries and suspensions, but the Londoners’ chic display has been marred by football’s latest racist incident.

Arteta said: “Yes, unfortunately I can confirm that. It has been reported to the stadium manager. The authorities will take care of it.

“The players who were sitting on the bench. One of them heard those comments.

“I don’t know exactly (which player) it was, which is why they will have to be questioned by the authorities.”

Referee Andre Marriner briefly interrupted play in the 34th minute to consult with match officials after the abuse was reported.

Arteta added on Sky Sports: “But it was one person and I don’t think it deserves a full stadium to pay the price.

“It was a unique incident, it must be pointed out. This has been reported and now the authorities will have to work with the clubs to try to figure out what happened.

Arteta was thrilled with the way his side have secured their third league road victory this season, which bolsters them to fourth place, with notably their first-half performance marking them as true League challengers. champions.

“We are there now and there is still a long season to move forward with a lot of unpredictable things going to happen,” added Arteta.

“It’s always difficult to play against them. Any opponent this season, you know the difficulty you are going to encounter.

“They (Leeds) never gave up in the second half and it’s a team that I really like. I’m happy because it’s not easy to play in this atmosphere or against this opponent.

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The patched up Leeds side, beaten 7-0 at Manchester City in midweek, improved markedly in the second half and were rewarded with Raphinha’s penalty in the 75th minute before Smith Rowe’s late effort failed. reflects the true nature of their defeat.

Boss Marcelo Bielsa was deprived of 10 senior players, with Charlie Cresswell (dislocated shoulder) and Diego Llorente (illness) the latest to add to a debilitating list of absentees.

The tea time kickoff was the only high profile game of the day to escape postponement due to coronavirus, but Bielsa insisted the show had to go on.

When asked if there was a possibility that the game could have been called off, the Argentinian replied: “No, no.

“The rules don’t provide for the number of injuries for a game to be suspended. Even though we had 10 fewer players. One (Junior Firpo) was suspended, one sick (Llorente) and the rest injured.

Leeds sit two places and five points above the relegation zone, but the two teams immediately below them, Watford and Burnley, have two and three games in hand respectively.

Bielsa’s side are in the middle of an intimidating series of games – they play Liverpool on Boxing Day – and have suffered yet another injury, with Jack Harrison (hip) sent off in the 31st minute.

The Argentine added: “You have to have a tolerance for frustration. You have to be very convinced, to a large extent, of where you are going to absorb these moments.

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