Arsenal ended a short slump in the Premier League with a 4-0 win over Leeds United, stretching the lead at the top of the table to seven points. The visitors dominated at Elland Road, while Leeds stayed 16th, still six points clear of the relegation places after a flat attacking display.
Set-piece strength again proved key for Arsenal, who returned to core habits in the title race. Arsenal have scored more goals from corners (14) than any other side in the Premier League this season, while no side can better their 10 headed goals (level with Tottenham). They also created 2.39 expected goals from 14 attempts, compared with Leeds’ 0.15.
The result came after Manchester City and Aston Villa had narrowed the gap during Arsenal’s three-match winless
streak. Mikel Arteta’s team responded with a controlled away display, easing pressure in the title race. Viktor Gyokeres continued an important run, scoring for the fourth time in six matches and moving to 11 goals, Arsenal’s outright leading scorer this season.
The match turned even before kick-off, when Bukayo Saka was ruled out after suffering an injury in the warm-up. Noni Madueke came into the starting side and quickly influenced the game. Declan Rice, on his 300th Premier League appearance, retrieved a set-piece, and Madueke’s cross was glanced in by Martin Zubimendi after 27 minutes.
Madueke remained central to Arsenal’s threat from corners before half-time. Eleven minutes after the opener, the winger delivered another dangerous corner from the right. Goalkeeper Karl Darlow, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin positioned in front, tried to punch clear but diverted the ball against the near post and over the line for the second goal.
Leeds rarely created clear chances, although Joe Rodon produced an excellent block to stop Gyokeres converting a one-on-one earlier. Gyokeres eventually scored in the 69th minute, staying on his feet to finish off-balance inside the box. Substitute Gabriel Jesus then added a fourth on 86 minutes, holding off Pascal Struijk before steering a low shot into the bottom-right corner.
A COMMANDING PERFORMANCE ON THE ROAD pic.twitter.com/aJIihFLzwbArsenal (@Arsenal) January 31, 2026
Arsenal Premier League match stats and Leeds United struggles
The scoreline matched Arsenal’s attacking control and highlighted Leeds United’s problems in both boxes. It is also the fifth time they have scored at least four goals away to Leeds, as they outperformed their 2.39 expected goals (xG) from 14 attempts. Leeds, by contrast, mustered just 0.15 xG and struggled to unsettle the league leaders.
| Team | Goals | xG | Shots | Goals from corners (season) | Headed goals (season) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 4 | 2.39 | 14 | 14 | 10 |
| Leeds United | 0 | 0.15 | - | - | - |
The emphatic away victory kept Arsenal seven points clear after recent pressure from Manchester City and Aston Villa, while reinforcing the value of set pieces in their campaign. Leeds remained 16th with a six-point cushion above the bottom three, but this performance underlined the need for sharper attacking play.
