MIKEL ARTETA has taken his spending to over £1billion to create his ultimate Arsenal dream team.
So in theory, he has an embarrassment of riches and at least two top-class players for every position.
But after just two games, unbelievably, Arsenal’s injury curse has returned in spectacular style.
So it is a good job that Eberechi Eze, unveiled to the crowd before the game, has joined summer arrivals Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi, Cristhian Mosquera, Christian Norgaard and keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
With players in red shirts already dropping like flies, there is no time for the newbies to bed themselves in and Arteta needs them now.
Arsenal had too much for Leeds with Jurrien Timber and new arrival Gyokeres both scoring twice, while Bukayo Saka made it 2-0 in first-half injury time.
There was also a standing ovation in the 64th minute when Madueke was replaced by 15-year-old Max Dowman, and the player who has to have his own changing room because of his age won an injury-time penalty with Gyokeres slamming the fifth.
So, two wins out of two is certainly not bad. But there is obvious frustration that ahead of travelling to Liverpool next week, with Newcastle and Manchester City to come next month, Arsenal are once again struggling with injuries.
Although Arteta denied this, one reason why Arsenal hijacked Tottenham’s move for Eze was because Kai Havertz suffered an injury in training. No-one knows if the German will need an operation on his knee problem.
Martin Odegaard, playing his 200th game for the club, went off before the break with a shoulder injury.
Saka looked devastated when he left the pitch – and whispered in the ear of Arteta – soon after Gyokeres had got off the mark.
Equally, Arsenal have been managing the minutes of Timber, who has returned from a summer operation, and he only started because Ben White is crocked.
Also, former Brentford midfielder Norgaard has yet to feature in the first two games. And yep, you’ve guessed it – he’s injured.
So if Arsenal are to challenge this season, and there is still no reason why they will not, they need to have better luck with the fitness of the players because this is just ridiculous.
Despite being so comfortable, everything still felt a bit flat in the stands and this was because there was a lack of spark on the pitch.
At least they are still bloody good at corners. Both of Timber’s goals came this way and Arsenal have scored 33 Premier League goals from corners since the start of 2023/2024, at least 13 more than any other side in the division.
Arsenal ratings vs Leeds
ARSENAL thrashed newly-promoted Leeds 5-0 as new signing Eberechi Eze watched on from the stands at The Emirates.
A glut of goals saw the Gunners cruise to a win in their opening home game of the season, including a first goal for Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres.
Leeds valiantly held off the Premier League runners up for the opening half an hour, and even came close to opening the scoring through Pascal Struijk’s powerful header, palmed away by David Raya.
But it was the head of Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber that would break the deadlock, glancing home beautifully from a Declan Rice corner in the 34th minute.
Starlet Bukayo Saka doubled the advantage just before half-time with a thumping finish into the roof of the net from a Timber through ball.
There would be no reprieve for the visitors, as Gyokeres beat his man and wrong-footed the keeper to make it three.
Timber added another goal for himself in the 54th minute, toe-poking a scrappy goal past Lucas Perri in the chaos following another troublesome corner delivery.
And 15-year-old Max Dowman showed the Gunners’ future is looking secure after coming on and winning a penalty late on, which Gyokeres converted.
Here’s how SunSport’s Tom Barclay rated the Gunners’ stars
As for Leeds, this will be a game they will be keen to forget but they actually defended well in the first half and at least they won their opening game against Everton. It is early days but despite this thrashing, they have a chance of staying up.
Gyokeres, who arrived with much fanfare from Sporting Lisbon, did not cause the visiting back four too many problems in the first half.
He wasted his only chance and it was a bit embarrassing as he should have scored from close range after Zubimendi cut out a suicidal pass from Pascal Struijk.
While it was left-back Riccardo Calafiori who got Arsenal’s winner at Manchester United the week before, it was right-back Timber who scored the first, as he squeezed between Struijk and Joe Rodon to put away Declan Rice’s corner with a glancing header.
Arsenal then suffered the blow with Odegaard who tried to play on after falling on his shoulder after being fouled by Anton Stach.
Before then, Odegaard had been extremely quiet and still looked the same player from last season who lacked confidence.
Arsenal looked better when he was replaced by teenager Ethan Nwaneri and they put the game out of sight in injury time.
Timber delivered a clever pass beyond Gudmundsson and Saka hammered a terrific shot which flew over the shoulder of new Leeds keeper Lucas Perri.
The £15.6m arrival from Lyon was beaten again, shortly into the second half, much to the delight of the home crowd who saw Gyokeres’ mask celebration for the first time in the Premier League.
He had plenty of work to do when receiving a pass from Calafiori but he bullied Struijk, charged into the area and then beat Perri at his near post.
After the exit of Saka, Timber bundled in the second and once again, it was from another Rice corner.
The biggest cheer of the game came when Dowman replaced the anonymous Madueke and the teenager won the late penalty following a foul by Stach and Gyokeres never looked like he would miss.
While Arteta wants to use Dowman sparingly, the way things are going, he could end up playing every week.
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