Arsenal Hammer Leeds 5-0 but Saka, Odegaard Injuries Dey Shake Fans Before Liverpool Clash
Arsenal show say dem be serious contenders for Premier League as dem scatter Leeds United 5-0 for Emirates Stadium on Saturday, August 23, 2025.
Di match sweet Arsenal fans well well, with new signing Viktor Gyokeres and Jurrien Timber shining bright, but di joy get k-leg as two star players, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, pick up injuries wey dey make everybody worry ahead of dia big clash with Liverpool for Anfield on Sunday, August 31.
Dis game against Liverpool na serious test, and Arsenal fans dey pray say dia key men go fit play.
From di moment di referee blow whistle, Arsenal show say dem come to chop Leeds. Di Gunners dominate possession, and di Emirates crowd dey ginger dem well. Na Jurrien Timber open di scoring for di 34th minute with fine header from Declan Rice corner kick.
Timber, wey don dey manage im minutes because of injuries last season, prove say e get plenty to offer.
Just before halftime, Bukayo Saka make di stadium shake with one sweet goal for di 45th minute plus two, making am 2-0.
Di goal come from fine team play wey involve Martin Zubimendi passing to Timber, wey set up Saka to fire past Leeds goalkeeper Lucas Perri.
But before di first half finish, wahala come. Martin Odegaard, Arsenal captain and midfield engine, go down after one tackle, dey hold im right shoulder.
E try to shake am off, but di pain too much, and dem substitute am with Ethan Nwaneri just before di break. Things worse for di second half when Saka, wey just score, pull up after sprinting, dey hold im hamstring.
Saka, wey miss plenty games last season because of hamstring problem, walk off di pitch looking sad, and fans begin dey fear say e fit miss important matches.
Mikel Arteta talk after di game say, “Martin get shoulder issue, we go scan am tomorrow to know di level. Bukayo feel something for im hamstring, and we dey pray e no too serious.”
Even with di injuries, Arsenal no gree slow down. Viktor Gyokeres, di new striker wey dem sign from Sporting Lisbon, show why dem spend big money on am.
For di 48th minute, e score im first Premier League goal with one fine solo run, dribbling past two Leeds defenders before slotting di ball past Perri to make am 3-0. Di Emirates crowd just dey hail am.
Timber no wan gree for anybody as e add anoda goal for di 57th minute, heading in anoda corner to make am 4-0.
Di match turn to party when 15-year-old Max Dowman, wey be di second-youngest player to ever play for Premier League, come on as substitute.
For stoppage time, Dowman win penalty after dribbling past Leeds defender, and Gyokeres convert am to complete im brace and seal di 5-0 win.
Di victory sweet, but di injuries to Saka and Odegaard dey cause big worry. Saka na Arsenal top scorer and assist provider last season.
Odegaard, on di other hand, na di brain of di team, with im vision and passing wey dey make everything tick.
Losing one or both for di Liverpool match fit be big blow, especially as Kai Havertz, anoda key player, already dey sidelined with knee injury.
Posts on X after di match show say Arsenal fans dey anxious, with some saying, “If Saka and Odegaard no play, we fit collect wotowoto for Anfield.”
Others dey hopeful, saying Arteta go find way to manage, especially with young players like Nwaneri and Dowman stepping up.
Di win against Leeds put Arsenal level with Tottenham at di top of di Premier League table with 6 points after 2 games, but Liverpool, who win their first match against Bournemouth 4-2, go be tough nut to crack.
Anfield na place wey Arsenal no dey always get luck, and with Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and New signing Hugo Ekitike in form, di Gunners go need all dia big players to stand a chance.
Arteta talk say, “We go assess di boys and prepare well for Liverpool. Na big game, but we get quality to compete.”
Fans dey hope say di scans for Saka and Odegaard no go bring bad news, because without dem, di road to Anfield go tough pass.
For now, Arsenal dey celebrate di Leeds win, but all eyes dey on di medical team as dem wait for update on dia star men.