Arsenal 2-0 Leeds United - youngster's good day, skipper and attacker's bad day as ex Whites get the treatment - YEP 27/10/21
By Graham Smyth
He handed a debut to a 19-year-old defender and was not made
to rue the decision and the first half at least was highly competitive before
it all went wrong after the break.
Here's the YEP take on a disappointing evening in the
capital.
Cody Drameh
As first team debuts go, Arsenal away is not the easiest by
a long stretch but the right-back did very well. Put in three or four big
tackles, showed his one v one defending ability albeit without being completely
dominant. On the ball he was tidy, played some nice passes and got forward to
support attacks. The youngster continues to look the part.
Diego Llorente
The defender has put together a run of four starts now,
which is good news for him and Leeds. Against Arsenal he looked strong,
defensively, but it was his passing that shone. He repeatedly produced no-look
or disguised passes into the feet of attackers and put Daniel James in on goal
with a sublime ball over the top. Bielsa took him off to protect him for
Norwich.
Bad day
Liam Cooper
The skipper had an excellent game against Wolves and overall
his Arsenal cameo was mostly fine but when a centre-half makes a mistake it
takes on greater significance because of the area of the pitch in which it
takes place. His back header to Illan Meslier wasn't good enough and it cost
Leeds.
Tyler Roberts
It just isn't happening for the attacker at present. Other
than a couple of nice passes he did not do enough to justify staying on the
pitch. His substitution came immediately after an attempted turn that gave the
ball to Arsenal. Bielsa had seen enough. The head coach is a patient man but
Joe Gelhardt appears to be closing in on Roberts' spot and Sam Greenwood is
another option for Bielsa. It has to start happening soon for Roberts.
Number of the day
23
Calum Chambers was on the pitch 23 seconds before he scored
the opener that took the Carabao Cup tie away from Leeds United. He ran on to
attack an Arsenal corner, replacing ex Leeds man Ben White, and was able to
head home despite Illan Meslier's efforts. His near post run was made with
sufficient energy to take Diego Llorente out of the play as the ball went to
the back post and then came back towards them, a free header the result even if
Jack Harrison tried to get close. The goal proved decisive, Leeds unable to
muster any kind of meaningful response.
Off camera moments
Leeds' substitutes always engage in a rondo towards the end
of the warm up, forming a circle and keeping the ball away from the player in
the centre. Mateusz Klich found himself in the middle and Crysencio Summerville
flicked the ball expertly through his legs, prompting the usual over-the-top
celebrations from the circle as the Pole lashed the ball away in mock fury.
Cody Drameh was minutes from his big debut when Stuart
Dallas approached him, put his arm around the youngster's shoulders and
delivered some last minute advice. The senior players looked after him,
applauding any good work and in the case of Diego Llorente, encouraging him
vocally when things didn't go to plan. Kalvin Phillips was later seen issuing
instructions to the right-back as Leeds prepared for a corner. Being talked
through the game by veterans helped him settle in quickly to look the part.
Ben White and Eddie Nketiah came up against their former
team and their old pals and while before and after the game there were fond
embraces and big smiles, it was all business during the 90 minutes. White, who
shared a hug with close friend Phillips as the teams swapped ends prior to
kick-off, was soon going to ground under a challenge from the Leeds midfielder
and Tyler Roberts. The trio coming together of the trio, who went on holiday
after promotion, led to a yellow card from Roberts. Nketiah was afforded no
special treatment either - Phillips got him later and patted him half
apologetically on the backside.
Marcelo Bielsa always cuts an animated figure on the
touchline but against Arsenal he grew more and more frustrated with what was
happening on the pitch. Daniel James in particular came in for vehement
instruction in the second half and it was clear after Roberts gave the ball
away that Bielsa's patience had worn thin.
