Arsenal made hard work of it, but a second-half comeback secured three points against a Leeds United side who will feel they deserved rather more from their afternoon in north London.

After the disappointment of defeat to Brighton before the international break, Mikel Arteta’s team needed a response. What they produced for much of the opening hour was hardly convincing, with Leeds organised, energetic and willing to exploit every weakness in the home side’s performance.

David Raya was particularly important in keeping Arsenal level before the break. Leeds threatened repeatedly, with Noah Okafor and Dominic Calvert-Lewin among those testing the home defence. Arsenal had opportunities of their own, Noni Madueke offering a useful outlet on the left, but Kai Havertz could only direct his header straight at James Trafford.

The warning signs were there, and Leeds made their pressure count ten minutes into the second half. Gabriel Gudmundsson delivered dangerously from the left and James Justin arrived at the far post to fire home. It was a deserved lead, and Arsenal suddenly had a familiar problem: plenty of possession, but precious little control of the contest.

Fortunately, Madueke continued to provide the directness Arsenal needed. His cross was worked across the penalty area by Ben White, allowing Riccardo Calafiori to finish from close range on 62 minutes. It was not the prettiest equaliser, but nobody inside the Emirates was going to complain.

Arteta’s triple substitution followed, with Bruno Guimarães among those introduced, and the Brazilian wasted little time making his mark. Declan Rice’s clever flick sent him into space on the edge of the area, and Guimarães finished emphatically into the bottom corner on 70 minutes. Eight minutes had transformed the afternoon.

Arsenal might have made the closing stages rather more comfortable. Martin Ødegaard missed a golden opportunity from close range, while Bukayo Saka went through one-on-one in stoppage time but failed to find the net. Leeds kept pushing, refusing to make life easy for their hosts until the final whistle.

There is plenty for Arsenal to reflect on. Raya’s interventions were vital, the midfield struggled to impose itself for long periods, and the team looked vulnerable against Leeds’ direct running and deliveries into the box. Against stronger opposition, such a slow start could prove costly.

Yet there was also character in the recovery, and Guimarães demonstrated precisely why fresh legs and quality from the bench can change a game.

For Leeds, this was a frustrating defeat after an excellent hour of football. For Arsenal, it was an important three points rather than a performance to celebrate unreservedly. The result matters, particularly after the Brighton setback, but the manner of the victory should serve as a reminder that this team still has work to do.

DJ

Football can be an odd game sometimes.

In the first few games of this season, Viktor Gyokeres looked like a little boy lost. Hardly seeing any game time, completely out of form and questions over his future. Then the international break happened.

Kai Havertz had started Arsenal’s Premier League campaign as the manager’s preferred option through the middle, scoring twice in his opening five league appearances. Then away with Germany, he picked up a hamstring injury that is likely to see him miss the next few weeks.

What the international break took from Havertz, it gave to Gyokeres.

Gyokeres scored in 4 goals in 4 games for Sweden during this international break and has now found the net in seven consecutive Nations League matches, setting a competition record.

Not only was he finding the back of the net, he looked sharp, ready and focused. And that is exactly what Mikel Arteta needs.

With Havertz out, it is difficult to imagine a better time for Gyokeres to rediscover his swagger and Saturday’s meeting with Leeds could therefore represent something of a reset.

Gyokeres knows where the goal is against Daniel Farke’s side, having scored three times against Leeds last season. More importantly, he now has the confidence that comes from consistently putting the ball in the net.

But Arteta does have another option.

Mikel Merino has already shown that he can operate as a makeshift striker, and his qualities are arguably closer to Havertz’s than Gyokeres’. He can link play, hold the ball up, bring others into the game and arrive late in the box. And last night he scored twice as Spain came from behind to beat Croatia.

Merino could be particularly useful if Arteta wants Arsenal to continue playing in a way that relies on combination football rather than simply looking for runs in behind.

The contrast between the two is fascinating.

Gyokeres offers power, pace and that instinctive striker’s movement. He wants to run beyond defenders and attack the spaces between centre-back and full-back. Merino, meanwhile, can provide a more connective presence, giving Arsenal another body between the lines and allowing the likes of Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze to benefit from his movement.

Ideally, Arsenal won’t have to choose between the two for too long.

But with Havertz unavailable, this is their moment.

For Gyokeres, it is a chance to remind everyone why Arsenal signed him in the first place.

For Merino, it is another opportunity to demonstrate just how valuable his versatility can be.

And for Arteta, it is another test of the depth and adaptability he has spent years building into this squad.

The international break has created an unwanted problem.

Now Gyokeres and Merino have the chance to turn it into an opportunity.

DJ