Karl Darlow an embarrassment, 3/10 teammate not much better – Leeds player ratings vs Arsenal
Leeds United were beaten 4-0 by Arsenal at Elland Road in a one-sided Premier League clash on Saturday afternoon.
Daniel Farke’s men were given a reality check on the back of a great recent run as the league leaders eased to three points.
Martin Zubimendi opened the scoring just shy of the half-hour mark and Karl Darlow’s own goal gifted Arsenal a second before half-time.
Leeds fans were right behind their players at Elland Road, but Viktor Gyokeres added a third in the second half and Gabriel Jesus brilliantly rounded off the scoring.
Karl Darlow has a shocker in Leeds goal
Darlow may point the finger at Dominic Calvert-Lewin for getting in his way, but the Wales international was the man at fault for Arsenal’s killer second goal.
He flapped at a corner sent into the near post, effectively helping it into the top corner of the net.
Darlow shipped four goals in total on a day to forget for not just himself but also his defensive teammates.
Indeed, Joe Rodon did not cover himself in glory with a number of questionable defensive actions.
Not least for Arsenal’s third goal, as he failed to cut out a right-sided cross for a simple Gyokeres finish.
Darlow himself could have done more to keep out the effort, capping what was a disappointing day for the man Farke has recently put his faith in.
Anton Stach the best of a bad bunch for Leeds
Not many Leeds players can come out of this defeat with their heads held high, even if it did come against the best team in the country.
Anton Stach did what he could to try to get Leeds going, though, and was the best home player on the field.
The two-cap Germany international, who was taken off in the 81st, registered Leeds’ only key pass of the afternoon.
He also completed 86 per cent of his 29 passes and registered double the number of tackles (four) than any Leeds player during his time on the pitch.
It was just a shame for the midfielder that one or two others failed to step up.
Leeds player ratings
Karl Darlow – 2
Jayden Bogle – 4
Joe Rodon – 3
Pascal Struijk – 4
Gabriel Gudmundsson – 4
James Justin – 3 (off for Okafor 46′)
Ilia Gruev – 3 (off for Longstaff 46′)
Ethan Ampadu – 5
Anton Stach – 7 (off for Gnonto 81′)
Brenden Aaronson – 4 (off for Buonanotte 71′)
Dominic Calvert-Lewin – 4 (off for Piroe 85′)
Subs
Willy Gnonto – N/A
Joel Piroe – N/A
Facundo Buonanotte – 5
Sean Longstaff – 4
Noah Okafor – 5
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