Jesus nets double as Arsenal beat Leeds 4-1 to move 8 points clear

Gabriel Jesus scored twice as Arsenal restored an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League table following a 4-1 win over Leeds at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Arsenal had seen their advantage trimmed to five points by second-placed Manchester City’s 4-1 win against Liverpool earlier on Saturday afternoon.

But the Gunners showed no signs of feeling any title race pressure at the Emirates Stadium as they cruised to a seventh successive league victory.

Jesus was the headline act for Arsenal as he replaced the ill Bukayo Saka in the starting line-up and ensured the in-form England forward wasn’t missed in the slightest.

The Brazilian put Arsenal ahead with a penalty late in the first half, ending a 14-game drought with his sixth goal since joining from title rivals City last year.

Ben White, a former Leeds loanee, doubled Arsenal’s advantage early in the second half.

Making just his second start since surgery on the knee injury he suffered at last year’s World Cup, Jesus struck again with a predatory effort, underlining the importance of his return to fitness as the title race approaches its climax.

Rasmus Kristensen got one back for Leeds, but Granit Xhaka’s late header capped yet another ruthless Arsenal performance.

Leeds, however, dropped three places to 17th, just one place above the relegation places and level on points with 18th-placed Everton as their fight for Premier League survival continues.

Speaking to newsmen after the game, Jesus said: “Everyone is playing so well, of course, it’s easy to come back and play with them. The team are playing so good.

“I’m here to learn and try to help. I want to score every game. More important is the three points so congrats to the team.

“I had to be calm and be myself. I always shoot. I and Zinchenko had a joke yesterday because we were practicing (penalties). I showed him some clips of my penalties and today I was calm.

“To compete against a strong opponent, it’s not easy. We look at this. Don’t think about goals, think about the points,” he stated.

The Star

Segun Ojo