Bruno Guimaraes completes Arsenal comeback against Leeds

Arsenal recovered from an early second-half setback to defeat Leeds United 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium, with substitute Bruno Guimaraes scoring the decisive goal as Premier League football returned 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.

Arsenal had been seeking a response after losing 3-0 to Brighton & Hove Albion in their final match before the break, but their performance in the opening 45 minutes was underwhelming. Mikel Arteta’s side created little and struggled to impose themselves.

They looked more threatening after the interval, with captain Martin Odegaard testing James Trafford six minutes into the second half. Leeds, however, struck first in the 55th minute.

James Justin finished from close range after Gabriel Gudmundsson produced an intelligent pull-back, putting the visitors ahead against the run of play.

Arsenal responded quickly. Seven minutes later, Riccardo Calafiori met a knock-down from Ben White and directed the ball into the net to restore parity.

With the possibility of taking all three points in sight, Arteta made a triple substitution. Bruno Guimaraes, Jurrien Timber and Viktor Gyokeres were introduced, and one of those changes made an immediate impact.

Guimaraes put Arsenal in front in the 70th minute with a well-constructed finish. Receiving the ball on the edge of the penalty area, he sent a low shot into the far corner beyond Trafford.

“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’s victory came before Manchester City’s trip to Liverpool on Sunday. It will be City’s first match since an independent commission ruled that the club were guilty of more than 100 serious breaches of the league’s financial rules over a nine-year period, along with charges concerning their failure to co-operate with the investigation.

Manchester City have denied any wrongdoing and said they will appeal against the decision.