Leeds United 0 Arsenal 0: Ten-men Gunners survive twenty-five Whites attempts in goalless draw

LEEDS United were denied by the frame of the goal three times as Arsenal survived 25 Whites attempts at goal in Sunday's goalless draw at Elland Road in which the Gunners played 39 minutes with ten men.
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Mikel Arteta's visitors were reduced to ten men in the 51st minute as Nicolas Pepe was shown a straight-red card after headbutting Gjanni Alioski.

The Whites created a huge number of chances in both halves as part of 25 attempts overall but ultimately had to settle for a point with record signing Rodrigo, Patrick Bamford and Raphinha all denied by the frame of the goal.

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Whites head coach Marcelo Bielsa gave a first start to summer recruit Raphinha who had the game's first shot on goal in the sixth minute but slipped on the edge of the box as his effort flew well wide.

SO CLOSE: Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford's header hits the post. Photo by Tony Johnson.SO CLOSE: Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford's header hits the post. Photo by Tony Johnson.
SO CLOSE: Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford's header hits the post. Photo by Tony Johnson.

Arsenal's first attempt came in the tenth minute as Dani Ceballos unleashed an attempt from similar range that could only hit the side netting.

But United went very close to taking a 13th minte lead when Gjanni Aloski's pull back set up Patrick Bamford whose shot from inside the box was straight at Bernd Leno.

Arsenal then came mightily close in the 21st minute when a left-flank cross from Nicolas Pepe almost caught out Illan Meslier and bounced back off the crossbar.

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Ceballos then fired a free-kick from the edge of the box wide before Hector Bellerin played in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who fired over from a tight angle.

But Leeds then began to dominate with Alioski laying the ball off for Raphinha who curled a decent effort wide from the edge of the box.

Only a smart save from Leno then kept out a snapshot volley from Bamford in the 31st minute and another good chance was then presented to Stuart Dallas who latched on to a cross from Jack Harrison but pulled his shot wide.

A Dallas shot was then blocked before the returning Kalvin Phillips fired well wide from the edge of the box.

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But another decent chance then fell the way of Mateusz Klich who blazed over from inside the box, again from a Harrison pull-back.

Former Gunner Luke Ayling was then the next Whites player to have an attempt but the full-back could only fire over from the edge of the area after a free-kick was cleared.

Pepe was looking the brightest spark for Arsenal and his curling from range flew just wide but Leeds ended the half on the attack with Bamford slipping over looking to latch on to a Klich through ball.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta took off Willian for Reiss Nelson during the half-time break but just five minutes after the break the Gunners were reduced to ten men when Pepe headbutted

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Alioski off the ball as the two squared up and was sent off by referee Anthony Taylor.

Arsenal still had the next chance as substitute Bukayo Saka set up Aubameyang whose shot from inside the area on the turn was saved by Meslier.

But the game was now set up for attack versus defence and a rising Dallas drive from the edge of the box produced a strong save from Leno to tip the ball wide.

A loose first touch from Ayling then saw another opportunity squandered in the 70th minute and it proved Ayling's last touch with record signing Rodrigo coming on in his place.

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Raphinha then saw a firm drive blocked before then sending in a cross for Bamford who headed wide.

Granit Xhaka then sent a free-kick over the bar but Rodrigo then almost sent a ferocious strike from range into the top corner with the ball narrowly missing the top left corner and minutes later Rodrigo sent in a similar attempt that crashed back off the crossbar.

Arsenal were still a threat on the break and Leeds survived shouts for a penalty as Aubameyang's shot was blocked by Cooper's arm but United's latest attempt fell to second substitute Ian Poveda whose low attempt from inside the box was saved.

But Arsenal's lightning quick England international Saka was then sent through one on one and denied by Meslier who managed to force a corner.

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Leeds had four minutes to find a winner and Bamford connected to Poveda's cross with a fine header that crashed back off the post.

A loose ball then fell in the area to Klich who fired over and the frame of the goal then denied Leeds one last time in the 95th minute as Raphinha's rising shot from inside the area was kept out the post.

Leeds United: Meslier, Ayling (Rodrigo 70), Koch, Cooper, Dallas, Phillips, Klich, Alioski, Raphinha, Harrison (Poveda 80), Bamford. Subs not used: Casilla, Struijk, Davis, Costa, Roberts.

Arsenal: Leno, Bellerin, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Xhaka, Willock (Saka 57, Maitland-Niles 90), Ceballos, Pepe, Willian (Nelson 46), Aubameyang. Subs not used: Runarsson, Mustafi, Maitland-Niles, Nketiah, Lacazette.

Referee: Anthoy Taylor.

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Thank you Laura Collins

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