Leeds 0-4 Arsenal: 'Dominant' Elland Road win has won Gunners the Premier League title, says Paul Merson
Sky Sports' Paul Merson: "At times, it was like boys vs men. Arsenal just brushed Leeds aside. It was an A+ performance. I can't emphasise how good a result and performance it was. For me, that was the game that won Arsenal the Premier League."
Saturday 31 January 2026 20:31, UK
Paul Merson says Arsenal's dominant victory at Leeds will go down as the game that won them the Premier League title.
Questions were starting to be asked about the Gunners' bid to win a first title in 22 years as they went into the match at Elland Road on the back of a run of three league games without a win.
However, Arsenal reaffirmed their credentials with a comfortable victory that lifts them seven points clear at the top of the table again ahead of Manchester City and Aston Villa both featuring live on Sky Sports on Sunday.
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Merson believes the manner with which Arsenal passed their test at Leeds shows why they will be crowned champions come May.
"Arsenal were outstanding," former Gunner Merson said on Soccer Saturday.
"There was a lot of pressure on them because I thought if they got beat, the scrutiny was going to increase a lot. However, they have gone seven points clear again with a win at a really hard place to go in Elland Road."
"At times, it was like boys vs men," he added. "Arsenal just brushed Leeds aside. It was an A+ performance.
"I can't emphasise how good a result and performance it was.
"Elland Road was rocking at the start of the game but once Arsenal got into the game, they were dominant all over the pitch.
"The squad is just phenomenal. Noni Madueke comes in for Bukayo Saka and gets two assists. There were five players that came on in Gabriel Martinelli, Eberechi Eze, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus and Riccardo Calafiori - what team don't they get in?
"Man City now have to go to Tottenham and win. For me, that was the game that won Arsenal the Premier League."
'Every game is a cup final'
Arsenal followed up goalless league draws against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest with last week's home defeat to Manchester United, prompting suggestions they were feeling the pressure in pursuit of their first domestic title since 2004.
But they made it eight straight Champions League wins in midweek to reach the last 16, beating Kairat 3-2, and there was no sign of any nerves in west Yorkshire.
"Off the back of the last three performances we knew how big today was," Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice told Soccer Saturday.
"To win 4-0 is a massive win for us.
"We can control what we can control and we have to keep winning games and keep pushing. What will be will be.
"So far we are top in the Premier League and won eight out of eight in the Champions League. We can't complain about where we are. We are in a really strong position, we know as players we have a really good squad.
"Every game is a cup final. We have a long four months ahead but we are prepared. Let's keep going and give it a good go."
Arteta: Arsenal showed how much they want success
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta said his side delivered a statement win at Leeds to get their Premier League title challenge back on track.
Martin Zubimendi and Leeds goalkeeper Karl Darlow's own goal put Arsenal 2-0 up at the interval before second-half efforts from Viktor Gyokeres and substitute Gabriel Jesus got Mikel Arteta's side back on track.
The Gunners made it eight straight wins against Leeds and remain unbeaten against them in 16 matches, stretching back to 2003, while they have not lost at Elland Road since November 2000.
"We're very happy, obviously," Arteta said. "A very impressive performance, a very impressive result.
"And in the context that we've done it. We knew about the difficulty of the game and the opponent that we're facing, with a recent form and the style of play that they have at the moment, the energy that the stadium brings.
"And then the fact that after three results that didn't go our way in the league, we really wanted to show how much we wanted it. And I think we said something on that today."
Farke: We faced the best team in Europe
Daniel Farke was full of praise for Arsenal's performance at Elland Road as Leeds suffered only a second defeat in 11 games in all competitions, suggesting the Gunners are the best team in Europe.
"Congratulations to Arsenal. Deserved win today. We have to accept the better team won this game.
"We were also realistic before, we faced the best side currently in Europe. There's a reason why this team is sitting top of the Premier League, with eight wins out of eight in the Champions League. You need a perfect day, but also a bit of luck. We did not have our very best day.
"They were on it from first to last second. We have to accept their quality today, there's not too much to interpret from today.
"Karl's disappointed with the situation [regarding the own goal]. But the key was today we didn't find the solutions to create chances and score goals.
"Set pieces are a big topic for them. We have a few too many away. We have to defend all the corners pretty spot on. If you concede two goals like this, against the best side in Europe, it was always going to be a long afternoon."
Analysis: Arsenal embracing title race noise
Sky Sports' Sam Blitz at Elland Road:
After last weekend's defeat to Manchester United, Mikel Arteta held a meeting with his Arsenal players this week. The meeting was "beautiful", according to the Arsenal boss, and the topic was how his squad would handle the noise.
Arsenal's form was dipping. The league's best defence was leaking goals and the attack was dwindling, with debates about who should be centre forward, and who should play behind him in attacking midfield.
They then lost Bukayo Saka in the warm-up at Leeds and with Mikel Merino also out, the injury topic was emerging again. They even had change last last-minute travel plans to Leeds on Friday.
Lots of problems have threatened to derail Arsenal recently, but instead they have come through their sticky patch. After that meeting, seven goals have gone in - centre forward options Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus all scoring.
Their defence is firming up again, with Leeds limited to just one shot on target. Martin Odegaard came off the bench and played big roles in goals three and four at Elland Road. Noni Madueke's stand-in display showed Arsenal cannot be badly affected by a Saka blow, and they are not as reliant on him like in previous seasons.
Yes, it's only Kairat Almaty and Leeds - but the opposition is almost irrelevant when it comes to Arteta's side. Their biggest threat to the title is themselves - it's often quipped that only Arsenal can stop Arsenal winning the title.
After some clear-the-air talks, the Gunners seem to be embracing the noise, and they're enjoying their football again.
