Gary Neville slams Leeds defending in first-half against Arsenal
Leeds United found themselves trailing 3-0 at half-time against Arsenal at Elland Road on Saturday, but it could have been more.
Gabriel Martinelli put the Gunners ahead twice before Bukayo Saka added another today (18 December), but the goal was coming as early as five minutes into the game, and Gary Neville was not pleased with the hosts’ defending.
Leeds immediately conceded possession high up, and Martin Odegaard played a perfect pass to Alexandre Lacazette, but Illan Meslier made a great initial save before Saka blasted his shot wide with the open goal glaring at him.
Neville was fuming with what he was seeing from the Whites, and he said while commentating on the game (via Sky Sports website): “That’s the problem with Leeds. You can just get through them too easily.
“What a chance that is from Saka. He just can’t adjust his right foot.”
Woeful
Arsenal had a field day in the first-half against Leeds, and they should have scored at least four or five goals.
Trailing 3-0 heading into the break does not spell the end of the game for the west Yorkshire side, but they have been the second-best team all day, and their defending is not helping them.
They kept losing the ball at the back and making sloppy mistakes, and while a repeat of the 7-0 drubbing at the hands of Manchester City is not likely on the cards, the Gunners could come very close if Leeds do not improve when play resumes.
The Elland Road outfit have now shipped 34 goals in 18 games so far in the 2021-22 Premier League campaign, and that is simply not acceptable.
They will attempt to mount a comeback when action resumes, but it will be tough for them to get back into this game.
Leeds face Liverpool next, and while their injuries have not helped, it is not an excuse for being woeful and making schoolboy errors.
Could lightning strike twice?
In other Leeds United news, Whites chiefs recently jetted out of the UK for talks.