Gabriel Jesus scored in each half of Arsenal’s 4-1 win over Leeds, ending his goal drought.
Jesus’ comeback was a gradual one after requiring surgery on a knee injury sustained at the World Cup, but it came just in time as he shone in a win that keeps Arsenal eight points clear at the top.
The Brazil forward had not scored since October, but he converted a penalty he had won himself in the first half and then added the third after former Leeds loanee Ben White had doubled the lead – Rasmus Kristensen pulling one back for Leeds before Granit Xhaka’s header secured the points.
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On the eve of the game, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta spoke about Jesus, saying that his summer signing was ready to bring back the “chaos” that he had created during a stellar first few months in north London.
The Emirates Stadium had opened early to allow fans to watch Manchester City’s game against Liverpool, which ended in a comfortable victory for their title rivals.
But it was an ex-City player who kept the eight-point gap intact, as Jesus scored his first goals in 18 games to lead the Gunners to a comfortable victory.
Arsenal were slow to get going, as struggling Leeds had a chance in the first 15 seconds, forcing Aaron Ramsdale into a good save to prevent Kristensen from breaking the deadlock.
Jesus then wasted a good scoring chance, heading over from seven yards after being picked out unmarked in the middle of the goal, before Ramsdale came back to deny Crysencio Summerville.
After Jack Harrison pricked Ramsdale’s palms, the hosts were presented with a golden opportunity to go ahead when former Arsenal youngster Luke Ayling caught Jesus with a stray boot after attempting a sliding challenge inside his own box.
Jesus got back up and dispatched the resulting penalty straight down the middle of Illan Meslier’s goal, bringing an end to a six-month drought that included three months out due to a knee injury.
Ayling nearly scored his own goal after fluffing his lines and clearing a long-range Gabriel Martinelli effort, the Brazilian aiming to score into an empty net after Meslier tore off his line only to play the ball straight into his path.
White scored his second goal of the season early in the second half, turning in a Martinelli cross at the far post.
With a little under an hour played, Jesus would secure a brace by finishing a Leandro Trossard cross from close range before making way for Bukayo Saka, who had dropped to the bench due to illness.
With 15 minutes remaining, Kristensen beat Ramsdale with a deflection off Oleksandr Zinchenko, but there would be no grandstand finish as Xhaka headed home his third goal in as many games from a sublime Martin Odegaard pass.
The win kept Arsenal well clear at the top, but the defeat leaves Javi Gracia’s Leeds just one point above the relegation zone as he fights to keep the Yorkshire club in the top flight.