Arsenal paved their way into the fourth round of the FA Cup on Tuesday after they defeated Championship outfit Leeds United 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side thrived with a lot of confidence, particularly in the first half, which put Mikel Arteta’s entourage on their back foot.
However, Arsenal emerged out of the tunnel as a different side with a fresh approach after the interval and went on to clinch a victory eventually.
Here are three talking points from Arsenal’s win in the third round of the FA Cup over Leeds United.
Nelson Grabs His Opportunity
Reiss Nelson is one of the blossoming young guns in the armoury of the north London outfit. In the FA Cup fixture, he was handed a start by Arteta and the 20-year-old repaid the faith which the manager imposed on him.
Nelson worked tirelessly on the pitch, making a number of darting runs forward, to threaten opposition’s backline. He completed 4 dribbles, made 3 tackles and mustered a pass completion rate of 82%.
Besides, he scored the only goal of the game which proved to be the difference between the two sides. Therefore, it goes without saying that he made an impressive impression to stake his claim for a regular place in the starting XI.
Leeds United Make Their Point
Leeds United are unarguably one of the genuine contenders for promotion from the Championship. From their perseverance and grit against Arsenal, they showcased that they will be a formidable side in the top flight.
The Whites dominated the first half, carving stupendous chances on a regular basis, which took the Gunners by surprise. They were ruthless in their endeavours and were crisp while exchanging the ball.
However, they lacked the bite in their finishing, which eventually came to haunt them. Nonetheless, Bielsa should be mightily pleased with how his men performed as there were many positives to take away from the game.
Arsenal Need Torreira
Under the tutelage of Unai Emery, Granit Xhaka and Matteo Guendouzi started frequently but their partnership never dazzled. Against the Peacocks, the scenery was no different as they were breached quite easily.
Neither of them could inject the resilience which Lucas Torreira offers with his presence in the central midfield, which allowed Mateusz Klich and Robbie Gotts to get forward in order to create chances for their side.
In all honesty, Torreira has been a player who seems to have rediscovered his former self under the tutelage of Arteta. His toughness and tenacity enable him to do the dirty work which the likes of Guendouzi and Xhaka cannot.
Statistics Credits: WhoScored
