It would be a touch too hyperbolic to suggest this was a season-defining afternoon for Arsenal’s title ambitions, but given the opposition and the pre-match drama surrounding this game, there was no doubting that come full time this felt like a significant afternoon in the Premier League title picture.

Two points from three games is hardly compelling enough evidence to prompt full-blown crisis talks, but given the lofty standards Arsenal have set in the first half of this season, it felt as though we would learn plenty about them here . This against a team who have lost once since the start of December and with a ferocious home crowd behind them.

Fifteen minutes before kick-off Bukayo Saka picked up a hip problem in the warm-up, but to the visitors’ credit, they navigated a tricky test to return to winning ways in emphatic fashion.

What would have likely been most encouraging for Arsenal, aside from the result, was the man who replaced Saka. Noni Madueke’s goal contributions have fallen firmly under the spotlight in recent days, as have the entirety of the Arsenal attack. At one stage on Saturday, own goals were their joint-highest Premier League scorer this season.

But thiswas a coming of age for Madueke in an Arsenal shirt. His sumptuous cross allowed Martín Zubimendi to head the visitors into the lead midway through the first half and in the 38th minute the winger’s corner was punched into his own net by Karl Darlow, who had an afternoon to forget.

The £50m price tag has seemed to be an immense burden on Madueke and though he is still waiting for his first goal, his performance was encouraging. The news on Saka will become clearer in the coming days, but Arsenal can take some comfort that a player brought in to boost squad depth has delivered.

The manner in which the visitors stifled any creative buildup from their opponents and took full advantage at the other end had all the hallmarks of a confidence-building afternoon for the league leaders.

Leeds will look back on this with frustration, but their season will not be defined by these sorts of fixtures. The visit of Nottingham Forest on Friday is a far more significant encounter for their survival hopes, but the lack of anything too noteworthy in attack will have frustrated Daniel Farke.

Arsenal dominated most of the contest and when Madueke’s cross was headed in by Zubimendi midway through the first half, it was the least they deserved. That was bad enough for the hosts, but the second goal, was hugely damaging. Arsenal’s set-piece routines proved decisive again, as Darlow flapped at a Madueke corner.

Farke responded at half-time by reverting to a back four and for a short while there was a brief upturn from Leeds. But as the game entered the final quarter substitute Gabriel Martinelli’s cross was turned home by Viktor Gyökeres for his sixth league goal of the season. Darlow again could have done better.

Arsenal were not done. With four minutes left another of their attacking options scored a much-needed goal as Gabriel Jesus spun away from Pascal Struijk before curling home a marvellous effort that, this time, Darlow could do nothing about.

Teams rarely win at Elland Road by margins like this, but this was as decisive and convincing an away win as you are likely to find. After an unsteadying couple of weeks, Arsenal’s position as champions in-waiting has emphatically returned.