Alan Smith told Sky Sports during their live coverage of Leeds United’s defeat to Arsenal on Sunday that Helder Costa and Tyler Roberts were positives for the away side.
Leeds didn’t really turn up in the first half, and after 47 minutes, Arsenal were deservedly 4-0 up, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hitting a hat-trick.
But Marcelo Bielsa’s team fought back with two goals from Pascal Struijk and Costa during the second period, but they perhaps deserved more with Patrick Bamford’s penalty shout.
Former Highbury hitman Smith thinks Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin got done by Roberts before his assist to Costa, as he praised them for the impact they had.
“They have been playing good football during the last few minutes, haven’t they?” said Smith.
“But Bellerin gets done by Tyler Roberts with a run. And he shouldn’t get beaten like that.
“He produces the cut-back and Helder Costa with the finish – the subs have had an effect for Leeds. Helder Costa and Tyler Roberts. Huggins is working hard too.”
Both Costa and Roberts came on at half-time, whilst youngster Niall Huggins came on after 53 minutes, as all three changed the pace of their game.
In the second half, Leeds were in Arsenal’s faces, winning their battles higher up the pitch and putting Mikel Arteta’s team on the back foot.
Whilst it would have been interesting to see how the game would have finished had Bamford been awarded a penalty, Leeds will be more disappointed with their start because they deserved to be in the situation that they were in.
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