Three Key Takeaways after Premier League leaders Arsenal beat Leeds 4-0 

Here's Charlie Ashmore with his must-read take on Arsenal's performance at Leeds 

1 - That’s a severe test of our mentality convincingly passed

The lead-up to this excellent victory had seen a strange week, with a lot of noise, much of it negative. 

Three games of dropped points including two goalless draws saw the team’s cojones (or lack of them) seemingly seriously debated despite the team still sitting top of the League by four points, completing the first 100% record in the new Champions League Group stage, holding a clear advantage in the League Cup semi final and having a friendly draw in the fourth round of the Cup. 

The Ashburton Grove boo-boys hardly helped as that gave an inside foundation to all the noise.  Meanwhile Leeds had found some sort of form – one defeat in ten, five home matches on the spin unbeaten. 

Add to the that the inevitable hostile atmosphere always delivered by the fervent Yorkshire support and the words “banana skin” were writ large over this fixture in respect of our title ambitions. 

The way we took all that on the chin and delivered an excellent response bodes well for the run in. Sure, a lot of it wasn’t pretty but was it ever going to be?  That first half needed us to knuckle down and fight for the right to play. 

A couple of meaty challenges made clear what to expect and the ref, Stuart Atwell, not a favourite of mine, was letting a lot go which I don’t mind, as long as it’s done consistently. 

The performance across 90 minutes showcased all the facets of this team – grit, durability, refusal to buckle combined with a mixture of silk and steel in an attacking sense. 

The silk has been missing for a lot of our recent games so it was nice to see some of the flourishes delivered but overall this was a mental test as much as anything and the team passed with flying colours.

2 - Midfield shake up

I was intrigued as to how we were going to line up. 

I wasn’t expecting Kai Havertz to come in for Martin Odegaard.  To be honest I want to see them play together as I think they make each other better.  But with Havertz in the attacking midfield role, rather than up front where, I suspect, most of us thought he’d start, Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi sat behind him giving us some solidity in front of the back four while they took it in turns to join the attacking play. 

Without Martin Odegaard or Eberiche Eze there was perhaps less finesse in the midfield but I think the view was this was a game for solidity not finesse. 

There was time for a bit more of the pretty stuff in the second half when both Odegaard and Eze joined the fray, reinforcing just what a wonderful range of options we now have available to us (though a slight concern is the news that Merino might be injured). 

For Havertz  this was more about getting miles into his legs in his first start for a year but although we didn’t see the best of him his presence occupies opponents freeing up space for others even when he is not at his best.

3 - Options up front

We now have a full range of options available in the central role up front and a multitude of blessings in the wide positions (though here’s praying Bukayo Saka’s injury is nothing serious).  

On Sunday at Elland Road we saw most of them in action and although as already mentioned Havertz was in the midfield role primarily, the rest all contributed in their own way.  

Among his skills, Noni Madueke does seem to have a talent for winning a lot of corners for us. 

Leandro Trossard, without having his best game was busy as ever and constantly trying to make things happen – he and Piero Hincapie have yet to strike up a real partnership and there was one moment in the first half when it looked as if Trossard was going to pass it out wide having himself drifted infield with the ball but changed his mind when realising it was Hincapie, wandering further infield instead as a result. 

Viktor Gyokeres has his best domestic game for some time – he seemed to relish the battle and it was fantastic to see him holding off the fouling defender, ignoring the holding and grappling in his determination to be first to Gabriel Martinelli’s superb cross. 

That was a striker’s goal of the sort he needs to be scoring more of. 

It’s true he had another of those runs through the middle where he delayed the shot – he has to learn that in the Premier League he has to get the shot off earlier because unlike in Portugal, the defenders will get back if he dallies. 

But, he does seem to be getting more of those sorts of chances as the season progresses and he will start taking them – I am sure of that. 

And by the way didn’t Gabi Martinelli do well in the way he first got to the ball then saw off the challenge before delivering such an inviting ball across. 

Finally there was the flourish provided by Gabi Jesus and  what a flourish it was.  He could have had three during his cameo but the one he got – ooof!.

That little drag back shuffle to find just enough space and then the finish – absolutely beautiful to watch. 

Two strikers, a goal each – these two between them have a vital role to play and When Havertz is fully match fit he will join them.  And don’t forget Mikel Merino’s goalscoring contribution. 

Remember, for all the noise about not having someone scoring regularly, we have scored one less than Manchester City and have the best goal difference. 

So imagine what we will do when the strikers start scoring for fun, as strikers are wont to do...