Leeds United may have left the Emirates empty-handed, but their performance against Arsenal offered plenty of reasons to be optimistic.
Daniel Farke’s side went toe-to-toe with the Premier League champions for long periods, creating chances and frustrating the hosts before James Justin fired them into a deserved second-half lead.
The advantage lasted only seven minutes, with Riccardo Calafiori restoring parity before Bruno Guimaraes completed Arsenal’s comeback in the 70th minute. Leeds couldn’t quite hold on, but this defeat shouldn’t derail their season.
Having started the campaign unbeaten in their first five league games, the Whites have already shown they can compete with established Premier League sides. The challenge now is to turn encouraging performances into points consistently.
Former Leeds boss David O’Leary has his own thoughts on just how far this team can go. His assessment of where Leeds could finish this season should offer an intriguing perspective on Farke’s progress and the club’s ambitions.
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David O’Leary predicts where Leeds could finish this season
The former Leeds boss has insisted the club should focus on re-establishing itself as a Premier League side this season after surviving last campaign.
He stressed that avoiding relegation will no longer cut the mustard, as the fans have high ambitions, and he believes a top-half finish would be a fantastic result.
O’Leary said on TNT Sports: “I think for Leeds now, they have established themselves back in the Premier League and stopped being a yo-yo club.
“They have got to stop thinking they have got to finish on 40 points now; Leeds is a much bigger club than that.
“Leeds have got to start speaking now like they expect more. I would be happy if by the end of the season they are not in that relegation discussion.
“By the end of the season, I think, and I hope, they are hovering above that top 10. I think 8th, 9th or 10th place would be great for them.”
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The former Leeds boss is right
O’Leary’s assessment feels like a sensible way to judge Leeds’ progress this season. A top-half finish would be a significant achievement for a side still finding their feet back in the Premier League, especially given the strength of competition and the financial resources available to many rivals.
Leeds should certainly aim high, but there is no need to get carried away after a promising start. Establishing themselves in the division and building a squad capable of competing consistently must come first.
If Farke can deliver a top-half finish in his second season back in the top flight, it would give Leeds a strong platform to build on. European ambitions can wait. For now, finishing among the Premier League’s top ten would be an excellent outcome.
