Viktor Gyokeres opened his Premier League account with a double as Arsenal romped to a 5-0 win over Leeds United, though there were injury concerns for both Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka.
2025/2026 Premier League
5-0
Match Report
With Eberechi Eze presented to the Emirates Stadium crowd and fellow new signing Gyokeres getting up and running in a comfortable victory, it was largely a day of celebration for Arsenal fans.
But captain Odegaard was substituted before half-time nursing his right shoulder, and Saka then pulled up with an apparent hamstring issue early in the second half, shortly after Gyokeres' first goal, so there was cause for concern for Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal have already lost Kai Havertz to injury this week as three key men who missed stretches of last season potentially face further spells on the sidelines.
Saka had earlier scored Arsenal's second, adding to an opener from Jurrien Timber, who was on target again for the fourth. Number five came courtesy of a last-gasp Gyokeres penalty won by 15-year-old debutant Max Dowman.
With champions Liverpool up next the Gunners – who joined Tottenham at the top of the table as Leeds slipped into the bottom half – Arteta will be hoping for positive news on his injured stars.
Data debrief: Debutant Dowman delivers
The two Arsenal injuries ensured this was an evening of mixed emotions at Emirates Stadium, but there was plenty to cheer as Eze arrived, Gyokeres scored and, perhaps most excitingly, Dowman shone.
He became the second-youngest player in Premier League history, sharing the pitch with the youngest. Ethan Nwaneri was 54 days younger than Dowman when he debuted in 2022.
Nwaneri, on for Odegaard, is still finding his feet in the first team now, but Dowman made an immediate impact, attempting two shots, three dribbles, winning five of his seven duels and finally earning the stoppage-time penalty for Gyokeres.
15 - Arsenal’s Max Dowman (15y 235d) is just the third player to appear in a Premier League game before turning 16 years old after teammate Ethan Nwaneri v Brentford in September 2022 (15y 181d) and Jeremy Monga for Leicester City v Newcastle United in April (15y 271d). Kicks. pic.twitter.com/12wjsTFiAt
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 23, 2025
Match Events
0' Arsenal's new No.10 Eze introduced to the Gunners for the first time
8' Odegaard's shot wide out
9' Yellow Card! Jayden Bogle booked
15' Huge chance for Gyokeres but he doesn't even get it on target!
17' Gyokeres couldn't get to Madueke's pass
19' Bullet header from Struijk and Raya reacts quickly to palm it over the bar
28' Odegaard does not look right as he sits down and the physios race on
34' GOAL! Rice's corner is headed home expertly by Timber! Arsenal 1-0 Leeds United
38' Ødegaard is injured and has to be substituted by Nwaneri!
40' Madueke has a shot blocked but the referee blows for a foul before
46' GOAL! Saka doubles the lead with a brilliant finish! Arsenal 2-0 Leeds United
48' GOAL! Gyökeres scores his first PL goal! Arsenal 3-0 Leeds United
52' Bukayo Saka is hobbling off the pitch and Trossard comes on
56' GOAL! Timber scores brace from another corner! Arsenal 4-0 Leeds United
63' A triple substitution: 15-year-old Dowman, Lewis-Skelly & Mosquera come on
74' Max Dowman runs with the ball, bears down on goal, but it's too high
79' Max Dowman is toying with his opponent!
81' Dowman with a decent volley but slices it wide
95' GOAL! Arsenal 5-0 Leeds United (Viktor Gyökeres)
Line-ups
Arsenal XI: David Raya, Ødegaard, Rice, Viktor Gyökeres, Gabriel, Martín Zubimendi, Saliba, Saka, Madueke, Timber, Calafiori
Subs: Trossard, Kepa, Merino, Martinelli, Kiwior, Cristhian Mosquera, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly, Max Dowman
Leeds United XI: Daniel James, Lucas Perri, Joe Rodon, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Pascal Struijk, Jayden Bogle, Joël Piroe, Ao Tanaka, Anton Stach, Ilia Gruev, Wilfried Gnonto
Subs: Darlow, Byram, Nmecha, Sebastiaan Bornauw, Jack Harrison, Okafor, Sean Longstaff, Jaka Bijol, Brenden Aaronson