Guimarães stunner seals comeback win for Arsenal

AP:

Bruno Guimarães came off the bench to score on his home debut as defending champions Arsenal rallied to beat Leeds 2-1 in the Premier League yesterday.

Guimarães struck just four minutes after coming on. It was the Brazil midfielder’s second goal for Arsenal after joining from Newcastle in the off-season, having also scored against Sunderland last month. He celebrated by diving into the crowd.

It was the perfect way for Arsenal to celebrate coach Mikel Arteta’s contract extension this week and bounce back from a heavy defeat to Brighton before the extended three-week international break.

“This is the level for Arsenal, every week, every game, every minute, every action that you have to be at,” Arteta said. “Against Brighton (Guimarães) wasn’t at that level, and today he was much better, and he can still be much better, and that’s what we have to demand.

“He’s still not in the best condition because he did not have a pre-season. But he’s done it twice, (scoring from the bench) against Sunderland and now against Leeds, and that’s the quality needed at this level to continue to win.”

Arsenal moved level on points with Manchester City at the top of the table ahead of City’s tricky trip to Liverpool today. The match at Anfield is City’s first since the club was found guilty of large-scale financial wrongdoing in the biggest scandal in Premier League history. City is appealing.

It was a first defeat for Leeds, who had been hoping to leapfrog Arsenal into second place, courtesy of a superior goal difference, with a victory.

James Justin fired Leeds ahead in the 55th minute, but Riccardo Calafiori equalised seven minutes later. The defender’s sixth Arsenal goal, and first at home since joining the club in 2024, brought the hosts back into the contest.

Arteta made a triple substitution moments later, introducing Guimarães, Victor Gyokeres and Jurrien Timber, and the comeback was complete in the 70th minute with a superb team move.

A free kick was taken quickly and flicked through a series of players before Declan Rice set up Guimarães, who drove a shot into the bottom-left corner from outside the area.

Ten-man Spurs snatch equaliser

Tottenham snatched a 1-1 draw at Manchester United despite playing with 10 men, although they remain without a win in six matches following a US$400-million summer spending spree.

Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off in the 78th minute for headbutting Luke Shaw after the United defender angrily shoved him following a couple of sliding tackles.

By then, Tottenham were already trailing 1-0 after Bryan Mbeumo broke the deadlock five minutes earlier with what was only United’s second shot on target.

United fans began chanting that Tottenham were “going down with City”, in reference to potential sanctions facing their rivals.

However, Tottenham levelled in stoppage time as poor defending allowed Dominic Solanke to escape Lisandro Martinez and nod Sandro Tonali’s cross into the net.

“The situation we were in with the red card ... we need this situation, we have not accepted the defeat,” Tottenham coach Roberto de Zerbi told Sky Sports. “We have to react in all ways we can. It is a bad way, it is not the right way.

“I kiss Bentancur in the dressing room. Football is character.”

Superfast start for Chelsea

Jordan Henderson became Chelsea’s oldest English goalscorer as the 36-year-old netted twice in a 5-1 victory over Bournemouth.

Henderson scored after just 66 seconds and turned provider almost immediately, setting up Morgan Rogers for a deflected effort that put Chelsea 2-0 ahead after only 149 seconds.

João Pedro added another in the opening minute of the second half before Evanilson pulled one back for Bournemouth. Chelsea have not kept a Premier League clean sheet since January 21.

João Pedro eased any nerves inside Stamford Bridge with Chelsea’s fourth goal before Henderson completed his brace with a superb free kick.

Fulham denied first win

Brighton consolidated third place with a 2-0 win at Sunderland despite playing most of the second half with 10 men after Pascal Struijk was shown a straight red card for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

Maxim De Cuyper scored moments before Struijk’s dismissal, while Jaouen Hadjam sealed the victory in stoppage time.

Fulham appeared set for their first Premier League win of the season, but two very late goals from Abdoul Ouattara and Dara O’Shea earned Ipswich a 2-1 victory.

Brentford remained unbeaten after drawing 2-2 away to Aston Villa.