Arsenal 2-1 Leeds: Bruno Guimaraes rescues Gunners again as Piero Hincapie injury adds to issues
Arsenal came from behind to beat Leeds 2-1 at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, with substitute Bruno Guimaraes scoring the winner. But defender Piero Hincapie was carried off during the warm-down, handing Mikel Arteta a fresh injury concern after a fifth win in six Premier League games.
- Fixture: Arsenal 2-1 Leeds United, Emirates Stadium, Premier League
- Goals: Riccardo Calafiori and Bruno Guimaraes for Arsenal; Leeds scored first (55th minute)
- Guimaraes impact: The £75m summer signing came off the bench to score the winner on his full home debut
- Injury scare: Ecuador international Piero Hincapie was carried off during the warm-down clutching his right ankle
- Table: Arsenal move level on points with leaders Manchester City
- Next: Arsenal travel to Brighton, having lost 3-0 there last time out
Injury and availability
Piero Hincapie was carried off during the warm-down after coming on as a late substitute against Leeds. He was seen clutching his right ankle as he was carried off by goalkeeper Illan Meslier. The severity of the injury is unclear, and Hincapie now faces an anxious wait to discover whether he requires another spell on the sidelines. He has suffered from muscular issues this term and signed permanently for Arsenal this summer after initially joining on loan from Bayer Leverkusen last season.
William Saliba remains injured. Arsenal look to be missing the Frenchman's calmness at the back.
Kai Havertz started up front despite returning early from international duty after picking up a hamstring issue. He looked short of match sharpness.
Christos Tzolis suffered a hamstring issue with Greece and was unavailable.
What was said
"It was a great game of football. Leeds were brilliant for one hour. Mikel Arteta made changes when he needed to and the substitutions gave Arsenal what they needed. That's what champions do. Leeds can hold their heads high."
"He wasn't at that level against Brighton, and this is the level for Arsenal. Every week, every game, every minute, every action, you have to be at that level. Today was much better. That's what we have to demand, and this is what I demand to myself. I'm going to demand the same with the players, because if we do that, he will raise the standards and we will be a better team."
"The last time we put our shirts on, something was missing. And we need to be very conscious of that. From being exceptional and being the champions to being extremely average, like in that game, is a really thin line. So if you don't want it more than the opponent, you are not able to cope emotionally with certain situations, you're going to suffer. And we all suffered and we didn't enjoy that game, but then you have to learn the lesson and we certainly done that. We speak about it and you could sense that there was something in those tummies."
Arteta's comments on Guimaraes underline the demand for consistency at Arsenal. The Brazilian responded to a poor display at Brighton with a decisive cameo here. His manager's admission that the team lacked something at Brighton shows he is using that defeat as a motivational tool. The challenge now is sustaining that level against Leeds and beyond.
The numbers
- Arsenal have won five of their last six league games.
- The Gunners are level on points with leaders Manchester City.
- Arsenal have conceded five goals in six league matches, after conceding the fewest in the league last season.
- Guimaraes is the first player to score twice from the bench this season; both goals came from outside the box.
- Guimaraes has scored two goals that have helped Arsenal to valuable points.
- Calafiori has one goal and two assists in the Premier League this term — no defender has been involved in more goals.
- Arsenal fell behind for the third time in four league matches.
Deal details
Bruno Guimaraes joined Arsenal for £75m in the summer. The 28-year-old midfielder is a 'win-now' signing in the peak years of his career. He was signed as a statement addition, even though Arsenal are well-stocked in midfield.
Piero Hincapie signed for the club on a permanent deal this summer, having initially joined on loan from Bayer Leverkusen last season.
Ezri Konsa was brought in from Aston Villa for £55m and is still getting used to his new surroundings.
Why Arteta trusts Calafiori and Guimaraes to turn games
Riccardo Calafiori has become integral to Arsenal's attacking threat. His equaliser against Leeds was his first league strike of the season, and no defender has been involved in more Premier League goals than the Italian (one goal, two assists). With Arsenal trailing, Calafiori's ability to step into midfield and join attacks gave Leeds a different problem.
Bruno Guimaraes is proving to be the difference-maker from the bench. His two goals as a substitute have earned crucial points, and both came from outside the box. Arteta's decision to introduce him in the second half changed the game, and the £75m fee looks justified on this evidence.
The defensive reshuffle is less settled. William Saliba's absence has been felt, and Ezri Konsa is still adapting after his £55m move from Aston Villa. The partnership of Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes was one of the best in the world last season, but with five goals conceded in six games, Arteta must find a solution. If Piero Hincapie is ruled out, the options become even thinner.
Talking points
- Arsenal have now fallen behind in three of their last four league matches. Is this a sign of complacency or an inability to start games with intensity?
- Bruno Guimaraes has scored two winners from the bench. Should Arteta start him, or is super-sub the best use of his talents?
- The defensive record has dipped significantly from last season. Is Ezri Konsa the right partner for Gabriel while Saliba is out, or should Arteta look elsewhere?
- Noni Madueke was handed a chance on the left wing after Eberechi Eze's poor form. Does he deserve a run in the team?
What happens next
Arsenal are next in Premier League action away at Brighton, the team that beat them 3-0 last time out. They will also be monitoring the condition of Piero Hincapie, who was carried off during the warm-down. With William Saliba already injured, Arteta faces a defensive headache. A positive result at Brighton would maintain their title challenge and answer some of the questions raised by this performance.
Frequently asked questions
Is Piero Hincapie injured for Arsenal?
Yes, Hincapie was carried off during the warm-down after the win over Leeds, clutching his right ankle. The severity is unclear and he faces a wait to discover if he will be sidelined.
Did Bruno Guimaraes score against Leeds?
Yes, Guimaraes came off the bench to score Arsenal's winning goal against Leeds. It was his second goal from the bench this season.
Why did Arsenal beat Leeds?
Arsenal came from behind with goals from Riccardo Calafiori and substitute Bruno Guimaraes. Arteta's substitutions changed the game, according to Ally McCoist.
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