Mikel Arteta hails Arsenal's 'best player' in training after Leeds win

The Gunners bounced back from their 3-0 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League before the international break with a come-from-behind home win against Leeds.

Leeds took the lead through James Justin after 55 minutes, but Arsenal then launched a successful comeback at the Emirates Stadium.

Riccardo Calafiori scored from close range after being teed up by Ben White in the 62nd minute.

Bruno Guimaraes, who joined Arsenal from Newcastle in the transfer window, scored what proved to be the winner just eight minutes later with a good finish from the edge of the penalty area.

Despite Guimaraes' glowing display, it was Noni Madueke whom Arteta singled out for glowing praise.

The 24-year-old started on the left wing in a 4-2-3-1 formation and played for the entire 90 minutes. took three shots, none of which were on target, created three chances, and made one interception and also put in six crosses, of which five were accurate.

Arteta gave Madueke the chance to play on the left wing against Leeds instead of Eberechi Eze, with Christos Tzolis injured.

While explaining the reason why Arteta deployed Madueke on the left wing, the Arsenal boss explained that the winger impressed him during the international break and was the best player in training.

"I'm really happy because he deserved the chance that he got and he grabbed it with both hands.

"When I haven't liked so much what he was doing or he wasn't impacting the game, I made certain decisions. He has accepted them.

"What he's done is raise the level and in training he's been the best player in the last ten days.

"He gave me no option not to select him and not to play him today. You could see that every time he was in and around the ball, he looked a threat.

"Before the game we talked about two things: the challenge ahead against a team that hadn't lost in the Premier League and the second to restore our identity.

"We weren't pleased about what we did against Brighton and today we had a chance to make it right.

"We wanted to prove we are something special and unique."

When asked about Leeds, Arteta said: "They are very physical and committed in what we do.

"We didn't finish in some great areas in the first half and they kept running.

"It's incredible the way they attack the box. They could've punished us in one or two moments in the first half and then they did. It's a good testament to the league."

READ MORE: Sundowns boss hails Pirates challenge after ending MTN8 drought