The North London team had made a disastrous start in the local league, losing its first three matches at the beginning of the season, before regaining its balance in recent weeks.
As usual for most first-tier teams, Arsenal’s Spanish coach, Mikel Arteta, played the match with a squad from the reserve row, giving the opportunity to some reserve players, such as Brazilian striker Gabriel Martinelli, and his colleague in the front line Edward Nketiah.
Defender Calum Chambers opened the scoring for the capital’s team, a few seconds after he entered the reserve with a header that was saved by Leeds goalkeeper Ilan Millier, but the ball crossed the line by a few centimeters (55).
Nketiah settled the score, taking advantage of the reluctance to clear the ball by the Leeds defenders, to evade the goalkeeper and hit the empty goal (69).
On the other hand, Chelsea needed a penalty shootout to beat its southern guest Southampton 4-3 after the regular time ended with a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea played the match in the absence of their main strikers, Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku, and Germany’s Timo Werner, because of their injuries, but he was the best party for most of the match, and translated his advantage by opening the scoring by his German player Kai Havertz with a header (44).
But Southampton, who is suffering in the domestic league, responded with a goal by Che Adams two minutes after the start of the second half. The two teams exchanged attacks, but neither of them succeeded in resolving the result in the original time.
Because the rules of the competition do not allow for two extra time, the two teams resorted to penalty kicks, as Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrisabalaga managed to block Theo Walcott’s attempt, while Will Smallbone threw his attempt over the crossbar.
As for Chelsea, Mason Mount missed a hat-trick in a 7-0 win over Norwich in the league at the weekend.
Sunderland followed suit by defeating Queens Park Rangers on penalties, also 3-1, after regular time ended in a goalless draw.
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