Arsenal in for Youri Tielemans EXCLUSIVE, Arteta’s NEW contract leaves Piers Morgan fuming – Leeds updates

Arsenal verdict: Spurred on for showdown

ARSENAL 2 LEEDS 1: Another one successfully ticked off the list for Mikel Arteta’s young guns, writes GIACOMO PISA.

Now all that’s left to do is win Thursday night’s north London derby and Champions League football will be secured for the first time since 2016-17.

It will be no easy task though, proven by Antonio Conte’s side stealing a point against Liverpool on Saturday night.

But the thought of clinching Champions League qualification against the Gunners’ most bitter rivals is all the motivation Arteta and his side need.

And after spending the entire season in a battle for fourth-place, Arsenal could somehow end up miraculously ending the season in third place.

A 2-1 win at home to Jesse Marsch’s Leeds saw the Gunners extend the gap over Tottenham to four points, while cutting the deficit to Chelsea to a single point.

The narrow defeat flattered the visitors – Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and Granit Xhaka all wasted good chances to add to Eddie Nketiah’s early double.

CLICK HERE FOR GIACOMO’S FULL MATCH VERDICT

Arsenal sub ratings

Nicolas Pele (On for Saka – 68 mins) – 4

Given a decent enough run out by Arteta, but failed to impact the game at all when after he was introduced.

Guilty of losing the ball in promising occasions a number of times.

Emile Smith Rowe (On for Martinelli – 78 mins) – 5

The same can be said for Smith Rowe, who has now fallen behind Martinelli in the pecking order at the Emirates.

Alexandre Lacazette (On for Nketiah – 90 mins) – N/A

Rest of the starting XI ratings

Gabriel Martinelli – 8

Possesses an incredible ability to the ball glued to his feet while defenders bounce off him.

Assisted Nketiah’s second goal with a perfect cut-back, and was also fortunate to escape from Ayling’s wild red card two-footed challenge without injury.

But he was let down by his finishing, and should have scored twice. Fired over Ilan Meslier’s crossbar when put through one-vs-one, before skewing a volley horribly wide moments later after it sat kindly for him.

Eddie Nketiah – 9

Summed up his hunger to score goals inside the opening five minutes, chasing down Ilan Meslier to tackle the goalkeeper and score.

Showed his striker’s instinct to score the second too. Didn’t celebrate the first upon netting against his old team, but had no problems celebrating when he doubled the score.

More ratings

Mohamed Elneny – 6

Went slightly more under the radar than his midfield compatriot, but a solid display nonetheless.

Bukayo Saka – 8

Started the game well, bamboozling Junior Firpo with his pace and trickery.

The youngster has confidence oozing out of him, proven by backing himself to take on a long-range volley. The effort was blocked, but the confidence is there for all to see.

Began to fade away in the second half, and was replaced with just over 20 minutes to play by Nicolas Pepe.

Martin Odegaard – 8

Watching the Arsenal skipper was like watching a master at work at times.

Some of the deft flicks and back-heels that the Norwegian international pulled out of his bag of tricks today were an absolute joy to watch.

Ratings continued

Gabriel Magalhaes – 7

Booked on 16 minutes for a wild lunge on Dan James, that if he had made more firm contact could have easily been a red.

Not much to do throughout the game, and will be frustrated to come away without a clean sheet.

Cedric Soares – 6

Perhaps a tad susceptible at times to balls over the top, the Emirates crowd didn’t seem entirely convinced with Cedric’s display.

But the full-back did prove he is more than capable to step in when the first-choice options are unavailable.

Granit Xhaka – 7

Very impressive off the ball today, quick to hound the noticeably nervous Leeds defence.

Should have had a goal early in the second half but fluffed his lines from three yards out.

Arsenal ratings

Aaron Ramsdale – 6

It’s hard to give a player a rating when they have absolutely nothing to do, but that is the case for the Arsenal goalkeeper.

Only thing asked of him was picking the ball out of the net for the Leeds goal, which he could have done nothing about.

Takehiro Tomiyasu – 7

Asked to play in the more slightly unnatural position of left-back against Leeds’ biggest attacking threat in Raphinha.

Did the job well, and the Japanese international continued to prove he’s a guaranteed 7/10 every week.

Rob Holding – 5

Stepped in at centre-back again in the absence of the injured Ben White.

The man the Arsenal faithful call “Holdinho” doesn’t possess the same passing range as White, or the same composure at the back.

He was beaten at the near post from a corner with worrying ease by Junior Firpo, who flicked on for Diego Llorente to score Leeds’ goal.

Arsenal 2-1 Leeds

Arsenal hold on.

The final score is 2-1 to the Gunners.

Follow the post-game interviews, analysis and updates on SunSport’s live blog.

Arsenal 2-1 Leeds

Illan Meslier went up for the corner but it amounted to nothing.

Still 2-1 as we head into added time.

Follow the live updates on SunSport’s live blog.

Arsenal 2-1 Leeds

Leeds have pulled one back.

Nicolas Pepe has come on to replace Bukayo Saka.

Follow the live updates on SunSport’s live blog.

Red card for Ayling

VAR Review. It’s a red card for Luke Ayling!

Leeds are down to 10 men.

Follow the live updates on SunSport’s live blog.

2-0 to the Arsenal!

Ten minutes on the clock, and Eddie Nketiah has two against his former club.

It’s brilliant work from Gabriel Martinelli on the left, who escapes from his marker as if he’s not there.

The Brazilian then keeps his cool to pick out an unmarked Nketiah in the middle, who makes no mistake in sliding his quickfire second.

Follow the live updates on SunSport’s live blog.

1-0 to the Arsenal!

Eddie Nketiah takes advantage of a mistake by Illan Meslier to nip in and score.

Follow the live updates on SunSport’s live blog.

Gunners formation

Mikel Arteta makes one change to his side that started at West Ham last Sunday.

Cedric Soares returns to the defence, but this time as a left-back as he replaces Nuno Tavares.

There’s still no Ben White so Rob Holding, a goalscoring hero against the Hammers, continues at centre-back.

Meanwhile, in attack, Gabriel Martinelli, a tormentor of Leeds, and Eddie Nketiah, a former loanee at Elland Road, keep their places.

It’s a 4-2-3-1 shape for the Gunners that could easily transcend into a 4-3-3 if captain Martin Odegaard decides to drop deep to allow Martinelli and Bukayo Saka to press.

Leeds United XI

Young Joe Gelhardt starts.

Stuart Dallas is out after sustaining a horrific injury last weekend.

Kalvin Phillips will be holding.

1 Meslier, 2 Ayling, 14 Llorente, 5 Koch, 3 Firpo, 10 Raphinha, 43 Klich, 23 Phillips, 22 Harrison, 30 Gelhardt, 20 James

Nketiah keeps his Arsenal place

32 Ramsdale; 18 Tomiyasu, 16 Holding, 6 Gabriel, 17 Cedric; 25 Elneny, 34 Xhaka; 7 Saka, 8 Odegaard, 35 Martinelli; 30 Nketiah

Gunning for glory

Arsenal are currently sitting fourth, just two points ahead of Spurs with a crucial clash between the two sides to come next Thursday at Tottenham.

But for now, Arsenal must focus on Leeds, who are itching to get themselves out of a brutal relegation battle.

Jesse Marsch’s men are in 17th, just two points clear of Everton in 18th but the Toffees have a game in hand.

With all that at stake, Arsenal’s clash with Leeds is one of the most important of the weekend in the Premier League.

Line ups will be out in half an hour!

Arsenal vs Leeds TODAY

Arsenal take on Leeds in a HUGE Premier League today as the Gunners hunt down a spot in the top four.

Mikel Arteta’s side are battling with North London rivals Tottenham for the final Champions League position in the table.

It all kicks off at the Emirates Stadium at 2pm today.

Nketiah backed

Tim Sherwood and Clinton Morrison have urged Arsenal to keep hold of Eddie Nketiah.

The young striker’s contract expires at the end of the campaign, and the Gunners have yet to agree a new deal.

But speaking on Soccer Saturday, Sherwood and Morrison have backed Arsenal to keep the poacher.

“I would give him another contract, I still think they need to bring in another world class striker but I’d definitely give him one. He’s young and hungry,” Morrison said.

While Sherwood said Arteta should copy what he did with Harry Kane.

He said: “He’s the one player from their academy who’s had no love, why can’t he be the answer? Someone said he’s not going to take you to the level where you need to be.

“Well, Harry Kane wasn’t at the level when he first got into the side [at Tottenham]. You need to develop that level, they [young players] need to feel loved, they need to feel part of the environment.”

Arsenal team news vs Leeds

Ben White is still a major doubt for Arsenal as he has a tight hamstring which forced him to miss the win over West Ham.

Takehiro Tomiyasu could come in for the Gunners but Thomas Partey is out for a while, as is Kieran Tierney.

Patrick Bamford isn’t likely to play but Daniel James should slot into Jesse Marsch’s attack just fine.

Liam Cooper, Tyler Roberts and Stuart Dallas are all on the sidelines for Leeds.

Leeds Leeds Leeds

Arsenal take on Leeds today in a MASSIVE Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium.

It all kicks off at 2pm today.

Man City vs Newcastle follows at 4.30pm.

Tielemans exclusive

Arsenal are closing in on a £40million deal for Leicester star Youri Tielemans.

But Real Madrid would be waiting to pounce on the Belgian midfielder should the Gunners fail to qualify for the Champions League.

However there is growing confidence from the player’s camp and the Emirates club that Tielemans will be an Arsenal player next season.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta wants to boost the quality and depth of his midfield options this summer.

Tielemans deal ‘close’

Arsenal are closing in on a £40million deal for Leicester star Youri Tielemans.

But Real Madrid would be waiting to pounce on the Belgian midfielder should the Gunners fail to qualify for the Champions League.

However there is growing confidence from the player’s camp and the Emirates club that Tielemans will be an Arsenal player next season.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta wants to boost the quality and depth of his midfield options this summer.

Tielemans would be an upgrade on both Granit Xhaka, whose future at the Emirates is uncertain, and Mohamed Elneny, with his contract expiring this summer.

Leicester are all but resigned to selling the man whose goal won them the FA Cup last season.

Way to the Champions League

After Tottenham’s draw at Anfield, Arsenal now have three ways of guaranteeing Champions League football next season.

• Win the next 2 games
• Win against Leeds, draw to Spurs and win one out of Newcastle (A) and Everton (H)
• Win against Leeds, lose to Spurs and win against both Newcastle (A) and Everton (H)

Sherwood and Morrison back Nketiah

Tim Sherwood and Clinton Morrison have urged Arsenal to keep hold of Eddie Nketiah.

The young striker’s contract expires at the end of the campaign, and the Gunners have yet to agree a new deal.

But speaking on Soccer Saturday, Sherwood and Morrison have backed Arsenal to keep the poacher.

“I would give him another contract, I still think they need to bring in another world class striker but I’d definitely give him one. He’s young and hungry,” Morrison said.

While Sherwood said Arteta should copy what he did with Harry Kane.

He said: “He’s the one player from their academy who’s had no love, why can’t he be the answer? Someone said he’s not going to take you to the level where you need to be.

“Well, Harry Kane wasn’t at the level when he first got into the side [at Tottenham]. You need to develop that level, they [young players] need to feel loved, they need to feel part of the environment.”