Arsenal v Leeds live: Saka off injured after Gyokeres goals and Dowman debut in Premier League thrashing

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·23 August 2025

Arsenal v Leeds live: Saka off injured after Gyokeres goals and Dowman debut in Premier League thrashing

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Arsenal transfer spend shows 'ambition of club' - Arteta

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Arsenal thrashed Leeds 5-0 in their first home match of the Premier League season after a day that saw Eberechi Eze officially join the club and be unveiled to fans on the Emirates Stadium pitch.

Mikel Arteta believes the signing of Eze gives him his strongest ever squad as the Gunners look to go one step further and end their Premier League title drought. And they may well need that squad after both Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard hobbled off injured, the former with what looked like a hamstring issue and the latter with a shoulder knock. Arsenal will await further news.

On the pitch, another big summer signing, Viktor Gyokeres, made his home debut and scored twice in the second half, while 15-year-old Max Dowman was brought on for his Premier League debut and looked lively, winning the injury-time penalty that Gyokeres converted for his second goal.

Leeds were largely toothless as Gunners right-back Jurrien Timber scored twice from corners and Saka also lashed home a powerful finish before his injury.

Arteta gives updates on Saka and Odegaard injuries

There were some worries for Arsenal as Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard both hobbled off injured.

Saka pulled up when running at full speed and went down appearing to hold his hamstring. The England international looked frustrated as he hit the deck and seemed to know that he had done some damage, as he was immediately replaced by Leandro Trossard.

Meanwhile, Odegaard went off with a shoulder injury in the first half. The Norwegian midfielder tried to initially play on but, with 38 minutes played, he was forced off – replaced by Ethan Nwaneri.

"Martin looks like a shoulder issue so we will have to scan tomorrow and understand how bad it is,” Arteta told Sky Sports. “And Bukayo had to come off after sprinting and when he was wrestling with the defender he felt something in his hamstring. It is the other side [to the previous injury] but it is still not good.

"I don't know [how long they will be out]. We already lost Kai [Havertz] which is a big player for us and now Bukayo and Martin. That is why the squad has to be well-equipped. It is going to be a long season and we are going to need a lot of players in order to achieve what we want."

Bukayo Saka was helped off the field (AP)

Luke Baker23 August 2025 20:31

Why Arsenal’s future looks brighter then ever after demolishing Leeds

The future looks bright for Arsenal. Hoping for it to be “fourth time’s a charm” in their pursuit of Premier League glory, a flawless start to the new season feels imperative. It meant a home victory over newly-promoted Leeds United, in itself, was not so much a headline as it was an expectation. Instead, the stories of the day centred around a select few individuals, those that spark visions of rediscovered success.

Arsenal fans begun the afternoon on tenterhooks, waiting for the imminent confirmation of new arrival Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace. They wouldn’t have to wait long. The Gunners’ new No 10 was unveiled to the Emirates faithful prior to kick-off to raucous reaction, returning to club he grew up playing for and supporting.

To call this a homecoming, as was proclaimed over the PA, might be inaccurate - Eze was of course dumped by Arsenal as a teenager, something not fitting of a nurturing home. But as the 27-year-old calmly waved to his new fans, he let out a wry smile, almost as if to stick it to those who lost faith in his 13-year-old self all those years ago. That mistake has just cost Arsenal £60m.

Eze could well be the final piece to Mikel Arteta’s title-dreaming puzzle. He is exactly the player they need, a dribbler with creative spark who can break down the most stubborn defences. Yet his acquisition has already become something more of a necessity rather than a luxury.

Read Will Castle’s full report from the Emirates: