Viktor Gyokeres opened his Arsenal account in style with a brace as the Gunners demolished newly promoted Leeds United 5-0 at the Emirates Stadium on 23 August 2025. The result sent Arsenal top of the Premier League on goal difference ahead of north London rivals Tottenham, both sides maintaining a perfect start after two matches.
However, the emphatic victory came at a cost for Mikel Arteta, with captain Martin Ødegaard and star winger Bukayo Saka both hobbling off injured just eight days before a key trip to Liverpool.
Arsenal had struggled to break down Manchester United on the opening weekend, relying on a set-piece for a narrow 1-0 win. Once again it was a dead-ball situation that unlocked Leeds despite a dominant start.
Jurrien Timber, who had scored only twice in 52 appearances before this season, rose highest to meet Declan Rice’s inviting corner on 34 minutes and headed home.
Ødegaard’s afternoon ended prematurely when he landed awkwardly on his shoulder and was forced off before the break. The setback did not halt Arsenal’s momentum, however.
Just minutes later, Saka doubled the hosts’ advantage with a thunderous strike. Latching onto Timber’s pass, he rifled the ball high beyond Leeds goalkeeper Lucas Perri with his supposedly weaker right foot, bringing the Emirates crowd to their feet.
Leeds had once targeted Gyokeres during his prolific Championship spell with Coventry City, before his move to Sporting Lisbon and then to Arsenal this summer for £66 million. The Swedish striker reminded them of what they missed.
He latched onto Riccardo Calafiori’s ball over the top, cut inside and drilled a fierce shot inside the near post to make it 3-0. It was a statement moment for the 26-year-old, whose ability to thrive in the Premier League had been questioned despite a staggering return of 97 goals in 102 matches in Portugal.
Saka’s joy was cut short early in the second half when he was substituted holding the back of his left leg, raising fears of another hamstring issue after missing four months last season.
Arsenal added a fourth on 69 minutes when Leeds again failed to deal with a Rice corner and Timber scrambled the ball over the line for his second of the day.
With the match well beyond doubt, Arteta introduced 15-year-old Max Dowman for his Premier League debut. Dowman became the second youngest player ever in England’s top flight, behind team-mate Ethan Nwaneri.
Deep into stoppage time, Dowman’s trickery drew a foul inside the box. Gyokeres stepped up and coolly converted the penalty to complete the rout and register his second goal of the match.
It had been a day of celebration even before kick-off as new £60 million signing Eberechi Eze was presented to the home fans, having turned down Tottenham to join Arsenal. The jubilant mood carried into the stands throughout the match, but the injuries to Ødegaard and Saka cast a shadow over an otherwise dominant display.
Arsenal will hope their key men recover swiftly before their high-stakes visit to Anfield