‘Magical’ Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang announces Arsenal return in style as Leeds’ miserable time in London continues

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang announced his return to the Arsenal starting XI with his first Premier League hat-trick as the Gunners ended their winless run with a 4-2 victory over Leeds.

Starting for the first time in five matches following his mother’s illness, the captain showed Arsenal what they have been missing.

Having failed to win their last three, the Gunners raced into a four-goal lead with little over 45 minutes played, with Hector Bellerin also among the goals, before Leeds pulled two back thanks to Pascal Struijk and Helder Costa in the second-half.

But they could do nothing to prevent Leeds failing to win in London for the 13th consecutive match, a run which stretches all the way back to September 2018.

It hasn’t been Aubameyang’s best season in front of goal, but watching the game for talkSPORT, Manchester United legend Andy Cole insists the 31-year-old’s class is permanent.

Cole said: “That’s Aubameyang at his best, this hasn’t been his best season but he produces magic. He is quality.”

Aubameyang looked much more like his former self – skipping inside Luke Ayling and shooting low past Ilan Meslier to open the scoring.

A dramatic five minutes saw Bukayo Saka awarded a penalty which was then overturned by VAR – before the Gunners forward won another one moments later.

While the first was debatable, there was nothing contentious about the second as Meslier took a heavy touch and wiped out the Arsenal man.

Aubameyang made no mistake from 12 yards, and the match was beyond Leeds before the half-time whistle.

Leeds allowed the Gunners to toy with them in the box before Bellerin worked some space and fired past Meslier at his near post to make it three.

Arsenal picked up where they left off in the first-half and went 4-0 up as Aubameyang completed his hat-trick by nodding home a delightful chip from Emile Smith Rowe.

Struijk and Costa made things interesting by halving the Gunners’ lead with 20 minutes to go, but Mikel Arteta’s men held firm to climb into the top half of the table.