Arsenal vs Leeds stat attack: Anton Stach an aerial colossus, teammate's distribution now an issue

Leeds United squandered a lead to lose 2-1 away at reigning Premier League champions Arsenal on Saturday.

After three weeks off, Leeds looked like returning to action in style as Justin James opened the scoring 55 minutes in at Emirates Stadium.

That was a goal Leeds deserved as they had been the better side up to that point against a lacklustre Arsenal staring back-to-back defeats in the face.

However, just like that everything changed as Riccardo Calafiori equalised out of nowhere just after the hour and Bruno Guimaraes put Arsenal ahead eight minutes later.

Leeds still had 20 minutes to find a leveller, but they were unable to do so as Arsenal claimed the win.

Some Leeds players performed better than others against Arsenal, but what do the stats say about the 90 minutes?

Anton Stach makes presence felt

Dominic Calvert-Lewin's hold-up play for Leeds was superb, while Tarik Muharemovic was also brilliant in the air at the other end of the field.

However, Anton Stach also won three aerial duels - just one less than Calvert-Lewin and Muharemovic - as he made his presence felt in midfield.

Stach also led the charts among Leeds players in terms of tackles with three to his name.

Add his three fouls into the mix and it is clear to see that he was right in the thick of the action.

James Trafford questions to be asked

James Trafford has been a brilliant signing for Leeds up to now.

However, his distribution has been questionable at times and that was again the case at Emirates Stadium.

In fact, the former Manchester City goalkeeper finished with a passing accuracy of 56.5 per cent.

That is from 46 passes attempted, and while it is true keepers will often lose possession if they go long, too many passes were just wide of the mark.

It is something that could cost Trafford a starting spot for England over Jordan Pickford.

What other statistical takeaways were there from Leeds loss vs Arsenal?

Leeds were very good in the first half and early in the second half as the frustrated Arsenal.

Indeed, Arsenal (five) and Leeds United (three) recorded eight offsides in total in the first half, which is the most in the first half of a Premier League game in three-and-a-half years.

That did not help with the flow of the match, with neither team able to get it right in terms of breaking the press.

Credit must go to Muharemovic, who ended the game with a 93.9 per cent passing accuracy, closely followed by Stach on 90.3 per cent.

Calvert-Lewin's two take-ons could not be matched, meanwhile, and Jayden Bogle and Gabriel Gudmundsson led the way for key passes on two apiece.