Arsenal handed huge top four boost as Leeds win sets the tone for North London derby

Arsenal moved one step closer to returning to Champions League football by beating 10 man Leeds 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium.

Forward Eddie Nketiah, starting his fifth straight game in his career, took advantage of a Illan Meslier howler to open the scoring and set the tempo for what was to come.

The young forward then made history by scoring his and Arsenal’s second goal after some brilliant footwork from Gabriel Martinelli put it on the plate for Nketiah to grab his second.

The last time an Arsenal player scored two goals in the first 10 minutes of a Premier League game was some 20 years ago by Nwankwo Kanu.

Luke Ayling was then sent off for a really reckless challenge midway through the first half to compound their worries on a sunny afternoon at the Emirates Stadium.

With the win Arsenal have that extra cushion going into the North London derby and they know that they have their Champions League dreams in their own hands.

It’s been a remarkable turn of events for the Gunners in the fact that they are in with a chance to finish in a Champions League spot despite losing their first three games at the start of the season.

They had failed to score in those three games with their manager under huge pressure, but they have spent the most times in fourth place and with every passing week now look like the team which will take that precious spot.

Leeds woes continue at the Emirates

Leeds have not won at the Emirates since they returned to the Premier and this fixtures was always going to be a very tough task but the fact that the first goal was an absolute gift will hurt manager Jesse Marsch.

They battled their way through in the second half and got a goal to reduce the deficit after Diego Llorente poked home early in the second half from a cross.

They were particularly impressive in the second half with 10 men and created a few chances through set pieces but ran out of time to get something out of the game.

Eddie Nketiah revival continues

The 22-year-old looked like he was heading out of the club in January but has been trusted by Mikel Arteta and in his first 10 starts at the club, he’s scored nine and looks very confident at the moment.

If he continues to get the goals then it’s hard not to see why he shouldn’t be offered a new contract on his own terms.

He has shown that with trust and game time then he can produce the goals.