Parlour: Madueke 'has to do better' on Leeds goal despite Arsenal win

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Arsenal came from behind to beat Leeds United 2-1 at the Emirates, but Ray Parlour believes Noni Madueke will be disappointed with his role in the visitors' opening goal.

Leeds were the better side for large periods of the first hour and deservedly took the lead in the 55th minute when James Justin fired home Gabriel Gudmundsson's cross at the back post, beating David Raya. Arsenal responded quickly, with Riccardo Calafiori levelling just seven minutes later before Bruno Guimaraes struck a brilliant winner following a slick team move.

Madueke, making his first Premier League start of the season in the absence of Christos Tzolis, was involved in the buildup to the Leeds goal. Speaking in the Premier League Productions studio, former Arsenal and England midfielder Parlour singled him out for criticism.

'I thought Leeds were the better team up to that 60th minute when they made the substitution, until the equaliser, and they deserved it,' Parlour said. 'You could see the fans really enjoying the goal and it was an excellent goal, it really was.'

'You've got to really concentrate on just getting your connection right with the pace and Justin certainly got that right. Madueke has got to do better there. I played in the wide areas at times and you've got to track your runners as well. As much as you like going forward, you've got to do a good job for your team. He'll be disappointed with what he sees there when he looks back at it.'

Redemption in the build-up to the equaliser

Madueke made amends soon after, delivering a deep cross to the back post that Ben White headed across goal for Calafiori to finish from close range.

'He is better going forward, we know that,' Parlour said. 'This is a very, very important goal, they were just about to make the substitutions as well. It was a real deep cross at the back post and it is a brilliant header across. Calafiori gets into a dangerous area and he finishes it. It's a little bit harsh if I say James Trafford maybe should have done better. It was a much-needed goal for Arsenal at that time because Leeds looked pretty comfortable before that goal.'

Guimaraes seals it with a 'magnificent goal'

The winner came from a slick combination between Declan Rice and Guimaraes. 'It's a great flick from Declan Rice, he knows exactly what he's doing to set him up, and this is a great strike from Bruno Guimaraes,' Parlour said. 'He gets it hard and low, Trafford has no chance whatsoever and he will certainly enjoy that one. Another winning goal for him.'

On Rice's assist, Parlour added: 'You probably do that most days in training and it looks brilliant but to do it in a match... As soon as Rice has done it he looks around so he knows it is in a good area for a player running in and that's a magnificent goal, it really is.'

The win moves Arsenal level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table, with Mikel Arteta's side now looking to build on the result heading into the next round of fixtures. Quotes via Football365.