Arsenal: Noni Madueke justifies surprise Mikel Arteta team selection as injury blow opens up opportunity

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A long international break has created a vacuum for debates on financial breaches and independent commissions to take centre stage. For Arsenal, the injury concerns and new contracts have been the order of the day.

How nice it was, then, for the Arsenal fans to stroll back up towards the Emirates Stadium for the first time in 34 days.

Except the first home match in more than a month did not feel like a particularly joyous occasion for much of the afternoon.

Leeds were dogged opponents and Arsenal were sloppy hosts. There were groans aplenty from the stands, on one occasion leading to Mikel Arteta swivelling furious to the crowd and waving his arm in frustration.

Eventually all was well. The Gunners came from behind to win 2-1, Bruno Guimaraes firing in the winner off the bench.

The sign of champions or a fortunate escape? All that Arteta will really care about is the three points and a return to winning ways.

Not since the opening months of last season had Noni Madueke started on the left wing.

Christos Tzolis’ hamstring injury opened up an opportunity and, having been at the training ground over the international break working with Arteta, it was Madueke given that shirt.

The bar was low, but he was Arsenal’s best attacker in the first 45 minutes.

Playing a left winger on the left wing brought some traditional wide play to Arsenal’s attack. Madueke skipped past Jayden Bogle on the outside, stood up a cross, and Kai Havertz’s header was saved by James Trafford.

Noni Madueke got the nod over Eberechi Eze at left-wing for ArsenalGettyThere was intent from Madueke and being used on that wing almost forced him to be more direct. His pace was also a much-needed point of difference to the attack, and he would have been in on one counter had Bukayo Saka not underhit the pass.

The execution improved after the break, too. Madueke’s cut-back found Martin Odegaard for a big chance. His curling cross to the back post then created the equaliser.

Arteta gave Madueke an opportunity and the winger took it with both hands.

This was a first opportunity to examine just what impact a three-week international break would have on club performances.

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On this evidence, Arteta is unlikely to be campaigning for a repeat of it next season.

Arsenal looked rusty, particularly in possession. Passes were loose and the runs were not timed. In the first seven minutes of the match, they were caught offside three times.

Not helped by the lunchtime kick-off time, the match had a lethargic, low-key feel for much of the first half.

Declan Rice played a key role in Arsenal’s winning goalGettyInterestingly, Declan Rice looked particularly leggy. That is despite the midfielder having three weeks off, some of which he spent on holiday in Dubai.

Rice has spoken in the past of preferring to play three times a week and the rhythm that comes with that. For Leeds’ goal, he did not track the runner as he normally does.

Like the team as a whole, Rice grew into the game and visibly got his legs back under him. Not until the final 30 minutes was he making his trademarks bursts forward or sliding in to halt Leeds’ attack.

Not only for Rice but for Arsenal too, this felt like a case of getting the first match back out of the way.

When Arsenal were struggling against Sunderland last month, Arteta turned to Guimaraes off the bench. In the heat of the battle, with the Sunderland supporters jeering his every touch, Guimaraes flipped the match with a stunning strike.

Since then, Guimaraes has made his first league start for Arsenal and struggled. Brighton’s intensity, particularly in the press, was too much for the Brazilian that day.

Here, though, was another reminder of the £75million quality that Guimaraes brings.

He came on just after the hour mark and transformed how Arsenal played. Passes were fizzed forward and he played at a relentless tempo.

Impact: Bruno GuimaraesGettyGuimaraes’ nutmeg won a free-kick, which he had awarded himself and already taken by the time the referee’s whistle had left his mouth.

That started a gorgeous Arsenal move, their best of the match, as they opened up Leeds. Declan Rice flicked a pass into Guimaraes’ path and he found the bottom corner perfectly.

That is now two match-defining contributions off the bench already this season. With his mentality to make the difference alongside his obvious ability, expect plenty more big moments.