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