Leeds United have given their supporters plenty of reasons to be optimistic about their return to the Premier League, but Saturday’s trip to Arsenal will sternly test how far Daniel Farke’s side have come.
Leeds are unbeaten in their opening five league games, and while they still have plenty of work to do, they have shown they can compete at this level.
One journalist has delivered a confident verdict on their prospects this season, suggesting the Whites should not face the same concerns that surrounded them during their previous spell in the top flight.
That is an encouraging assessment for Leeds fans, especially with a trip to the Emirates coming up. Arsenal will be expected to win, but Farke’s men have already demonstrated that they can make life difficult for established Premier League sides.
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BBC journalist delivers emphatic Leeds United verdict
Adam Pope was asked on the Don’t Go To Bed Just Yet podcast whether Leeds would struggle again this season, and the BBC Radio Leeds journalist was unequivocal.
Arsenal hammered Leeds 5-0 at the Emirates Stadium, but the BBC journalist said he expects a much better performance on Saturday.
“This year? No way”, Pope said.
“Leeds are a serious outfit. They’re a really good outfit.”
It is a sizeable vote of confidence in a team that many will still be assessing cautiously after their promotion. Pope’s comments suggest he sees more in this Leeds side than a group simply hoping to scrape enough points to stay up.
Evidence supports that view. Leeds have looked organised and hard to beat in the opening weeks, while their 4-1 win over Newcastle United showed they have the attacking intensity to hurt opponents when they find their rhythm.
They have also picked up draws against Brentford, Brighton and Crystal Palace, showing they can stay in games even when they can’t dominate. The challenge now is to turn those encouraging signs into consistent results against the division’s strongest sides.
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Arsenal test could show how good Leeds really are
Saturday’s visit to Arsenal could hardly be a more demanding examination. Mikel Arteta’s side has title ambitions, and Leeds will need to get almost every detail right to leave north London with something to show for their efforts.
However, Arsenal are not invulnerable. Brighton exposed weaknesses in their build-up play before the international break, using an aggressive press to disrupt their rhythm. Leeds have the energy to try something similar, although they will need to balance that aggression with the discipline required to avoid leaving spaces for Arsenal to exploit.
Farke will also want his players to be braver in possession than a team merely looking to contain the opposition. Leeds showed against Newcastle that they can create problems when they press with purpose and move the ball forward quickly after winning it.
None of this makes Leeds favourites on Saturday, and Pope’s comments should not be mistaken for a guarantee that they will avoid a difficult season. The Premier League remains unforgiving, and five matches are not enough to settle the bigger questions about survival.
But Leeds have made a promising start, and they travel to Arsenal with a degree of confidence that might not have been expected before the campaign began.
A positive result would strengthen Pope’s argument considerably. More importantly, it would remind Leeds they belong at this level and don’t need to approach every meeting with a top side simply hoping to limit the damage.
