Bruno Guimaraes completes Arsenal comeback victory over Leeds

Arsenal recovered from conceding first to beat Leeds United 2-1 at Emirates Stadium, with substitute Bruno Guimaraes scoring the decisive goal as Premier League football resumed after the international break.

The result lifted the champions to second place with 15 points, level with Manchester City but behind them on goal difference. Leeds remain fifth on nine points.

Mikel Arteta’s side had been seeking a response after losing 3-0 to Brighton & Hove Albion in their final match before the break. However, Arsenal produced little threat during a subdued first half and went into the interval without seriously testing Leeds goalkeeper James Trafford.

The hosts improved after the restart and came close to opening the scoring when captain Martin Odegaard forced a sharp save from Trafford six minutes into the second half.

Instead, Leeds moved in front in the 55th minute. Gabriel Gudmundsson’s clever pull-back found James Justin, who struck firmly into the net to put the visitors ahead.

Arsenal equalised seven minutes later through Riccardo Calafiori. The Italian defender reacted to Ben White’s knock-down and rose to guide his header beyond Trafford.

With the possibility of completing the comeback, Arteta made a triple substitution, introducing Guimaraes, Jurrien Timber and Viktor Gyokeres.

The changes had the desired effect. Guimaraes put Arsenal in front in the 70th minute with a finely constructed finish, receiving the ball on the edge of the penalty area before sending a low shot into the far corner.

“It was such a difficult game, obviously after the international break it’s never easy, especially after a defeat in our last game,” Calafiori said.

“I think we had some tough moments, but I think we deserved the winner. We acted well after the goal we conceded.”

Arsenal held on to secure three points and begin the post-international-break period with a victory, despite having fallen behind against Leeds.

Manchester City travel to Liverpool on Sunday in their first match since an independent commission found the club guilty of more than 100 serious breaches of the league’s financial rules over nine years.

The commission also found City guilty of charges relating to their failure to co-operate with the investigation. Manchester City have denied wrongdoing and said they will appeal against the decision.