Viktor Gyokeres scored his first two Arsenal goals as the Gunners gave Leeds a harsh lesson in the step up to the Premier League with a 5-0 win at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
The victory came at a cost for Mikel Arteta as Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard hobbled off injured just eight days before Arsenal’s trip to Liverpool.
Odegaard and Saka were forced off either side of half-time due to shoulder and hamstring issues, making them doubts for Arsenal’s showdown with champions Liverpool next Sunday.
Arsenal edged ahead of north London rivals Tottenham at the top of the table on goal difference, as the only two sides so far with a 100 per cent record from their opening two games.
Saka fired in a blistering strike from a narrow angle to double the home side’s lead after Jurrien Timber opened the scoring.
Gyokeres was signed from Sporting Lisbon as the solution to Arsenal’s need for a killer number nine.
The Swede’s ability to succeed in the Premier League has been questioned despite his prolific record of 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting.
Eberechi Eze joins Arsenal for £67.5m from Crystal Palace
Gyokeres made his mark with a fine individual run and finish before Timber bundled in his second from another Declan Rice corner.
Gyokeres rounded off the scoring from the penalty spot with virtually the last kick of the game.
15-year-old Max Dowman’s trickery won a penalty deep into stoppage time that Gyokeres gratefully dispatched.
A day of celebration for the home fans began before kick-off when new £60 million ($81 million) signing Eberechi Ezi was paraded after he turned down a move to Tottenham.
Dowman also became the second youngest ever player to play in the Premier League after teammate Ethan Nwaneri.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa failed to score in their opening two games after losing 1-0 at Brentford.
Marcus Tavernier also scored the only goal as Bournemouth beat 10-man Wolves 1-0.
Burnley secured their first points back in the top flight with a 2-0 win over Sunderland.
Champions Liverpool travel to Newcastle on Monday with the clubs at a stand-off over Magpies striker Alexander Isak.
The Swede will miss the game as he attempts to force through a move to Liverpool before the end of the transfer window.
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