Arsenal scored a 4-1 win over an injured Leeds United at land Road on Saturday, the only Premier League game to go ahead amid several postponements.
An opening brace from striker Gabriel Martinelli as well as goals from Bukayo Saka and Emil Smith Rowe helped Mikel Arteta's side to a third consecutive league win that places them in fourth place.
Leeds fielded a bare-bones side on Saturday with eight senior players missing due to injury or suspension, and even named 15-year-old Archie Grey on the bench, a Premier League player. became the youngest player in the U.S.'s history to be replaced.
Arsenal fired 11 shots on target in an impressive performance in the first half, with the first coming within five minutes, goalkeeper Ilan Meslier pushing a shot aside before opposing striker Alexandre Lacazette, then again on the save soon after. For, this time midfielder Thomas Partey strikes from his near post.
Running on the ball after a tackle from Lacazette, Martinelli broke the deadlock in 16 minutes and fired in the top right corner.
The 20-year-old in spectacular fashion doubled Arsenal's lead 13 minutes later, when he smacked Meslier for a four after blocking a head-to-head goal.
Saka added a third just before the break, pitching two Leeds defenders inside the 18-yard box before scoring after a deflection.
Arsenal's dominance continued in the second half, although this could have been reduced to 10 men when the video assistant referee reviewed a tackle from midfielder Granit xhaka on Leeds midfielder Rafinha for a possible red card at the start of the second half, but no penalty. not given.
Leeds scored a consolation goal via a Rafinha penalty on 75 minutes after striker Joe Gellhardt was taken down inside the box.
Smith Rowe capped his side's performance with a goal on 83 minutes, firing a brilliant pass from teammate Martin Odegaard.
After the match, Arteta praised Martinelli, who has now scored four goals in his last six league games.
"We see the player every day and we know that the player has to be able to play at the top level throughout the season," Arteta told reporters.
"We are here to develop him as a player and he has had to wait for his moment.
"I'm really happy with him and how he's performing. He's come a long, long way. His energy and his passion don't get much better. When he has opportunities, he pushes them away." . He is going in the right direction."
Arteta confirmed after the match that Arsenal players on the bench had been racially abused by a Leeds supporter.
I can confirm this and it was reported to the stadium manager."
"The officials will investigate it. One of the players on the bench heard those comments. I don't know what it was directed at."