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Arsenal and Leeds United fought to a goalless draw at Elland Road despite producing a combined total of 34 shots in the game on Sunday.
Both sides had their chances to get onto the scoresheet but their efforts came to nought at the end of the 90 minutes.
Marco Bielsa's side had most of the chances in the game and things became slightly easier for them when Arsenal's Nicolas Pepe was sent off early in the second half. Mikel Arteta's men quickly regrouped to cope with the numerical disadvantage and barely managed to cling to a draw.
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Here are five talking points from the goalless draw between the two clubs.
#5 Nicolas Pepe sent off for the first time in his Arsenal career
Nicolas Pepe had Arsenal's best chance in the first half but just minutes after the break, the Ivory Coast forward lost his cool and engaged in a confrontation with Ezgjan Alioski.
The referee, Anthony Taylor, initially missed the challenge. However, upon the Video Assistant Referee (VAR)'s review, he decided to show a straight red to Pepe. The 25-year-old's dismissal means that he will miss the upcoming games against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley.
There is no doubt that Pepe deserves to be sent off for his reckless headbutt on Alioski but his Arsenal future could be thrown into limbo if Arteta decides that his attitude is unwarranted in the team.
Speaking to the media, the Arsenal manager said:
“I really liked the personality of the team when Pepe let the team down. His behaviour is unacceptable."
"Yes [I’ve spoken to Pepe]. [I told him] it’s unacceptable.”
#4 Attacking woes becoming a headache for Arsenal
By the end of the game, Leeds United outplayed Arsenal in every single aspect. They had 25 shots, of which four were on target, as compared to the north London side's miserable nine shots and two on target.
Leeds also enjoyed superior possession of 67% and a passing accuracy of 85% while the Gunners only completed 70% of their passes.
Arsenal's attacking woes have persisted even after the international break, and shifting Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to the center did not seem to help alleviate the situation. With very few chances created by his teammates, Aubameyang can't be blamed for barely touching the ball and not scoring.
Arsenal have now gone close to eight hours without scoring from open play, and the statistics show a clear need for improvement up front. According to reports, the north London club could be keen on signing Dominik Szoboszlai to boost creativity in their midfield.
#3 Arsenal keep another clean sheet away from home
Without Bernd Leno, Arsenal would have conceded and lost the game. Thanks to his heroics and sharp reflexes, the Gunners managed to get away with a point.
Although Leeds were the better team and probably deserved to win, the presence of an experienced keeper in such circumstances can make a difference. The lackluster performance up front meant that Leno needed to work extra hard to keep his team in the game.
In previous performances, the 28-year-old had looked vulnerable and uncertain with his decisions. However, he proved otherwise on Sunday by denying Leeds time and again.
#2 Leeds United get away with handball in their box
Replays showed that Arsenal could have been awarded a penalty by the VAR after a handball in their opponent's box. However, nothing was given, much to the dismay of Arsenal fans.
Aubameyang's shot on goal had clearly hit the arm of a Leeds defender as Arsenal players took turns to call for a penalty. In a match where chances are hard to come by, a blatant handball like that would definitely be spotted by the Arsenal players.
Had the penalty been given to the Gunners, Arteta's side could have taken all three points home. Leeds were truly lucky that the VAR and Taylor did not pursue the matter further.
#1 Arsenal's chances of a top-four finish are getting slimmer
While teams like Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea make improvements on a weekly basis, Arsenal's form appears to be declining. They have only won one out of their last five Premier League matches, and this is nowhere near the standard required to finish in the top-four of the league table.
Gabriel Martinelli is expected to return to full training soon, and the Brazilian, who has 14 goal contributions in 26 matches, may become a vital player for the Gunners. If there are no creative midfielders in the team to create chances, Arsenal can, at best, get away with a draw.
It is imperative for Arsenal to bring in creative midfielders in the upcoming January transfer window. Otherwise, it would be hard to envision them playing in the UEFA Champions League anytime soon.
Given the strength of teams like Southampton, Leicester City and Everton this season, qualifying for the UEFA Europa League might even be a Herculean task for Arteta.
