Pat Nevin has questioned Javi Gracia for Leeds United’s ‘strange’ substitutions in the 4-1 defeat at Arsenal. Patrick Bamford’s limited role was also particularly perplexing.
Arsenal ran out comfortable victors at Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon in the end. Leeds had threatened to cause the Premier League leaders problems during the first half in north London. But Crysencio Summerville spurned a realistic chance to break the deadlock.
Luke Ayling then handed the club that the right-back started his career with a penalty after clipping Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian (35’) made no mistake from the spot and would grab a second goal (55’) after half-time. Ben White (47’) had already given the Gunners a 2-0 lead.
Arsenal punished Leeds to win 4-1 after surviving an early scare
Rasmus Kristensen (76’) gave Leeds hope to keep pushing for a late comeback after seeing his strike deflect off Oleksandr Zinchenko and beat Aaron Ramsdale. But Granit Xhaka (84’) soon eliminated any remaining embers of belief the Elland Road natives had to get a point.
The result leaves Leeds down in 16th place and only outside of the relegation zone by one point. But the Whites still hold a game in hand that may yet prove crucial in a close-fought battle. Nine teams are still competing to avoid falling into the Championship next season.
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Pat Nevin questions Javi Gracia’s substitutions at Emirates Stadium
Gracia did not react to Arsenal creating a 3-0 lead until the 65th minute when Rodrigo and Weston McKennie replaced Luis Sinisterra and Brenden Aaronson for Leeds. Liam Cooper and Georginio Rutter also came on for Robin Koch and Summerville soon after in the 74th.
It was not until the 85th minute that Bamford replaced Jack Harrison at Arsenal for Leeds’ last substitution at 4-1. Yet the striker ended the day on a yellow card after his late foul on Jorginho. But five minutes plus stoppage time was not enough for him to impact the result.
Gracia not responding to Arsenal creating a 3-0 lead before making Leeds’ first substitution in the 65th minute perplexed Nevin. The ex-Scotland winger especially did not understand why Bamford only came on in the 85th when the result was realistically already put to bed.
Nevin told BBC Radio 5 Live: “There’s been some strange substitutions in this game from Leeds and only just bringing Bamford on now is one of them.”
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