Leeds United’s unbeaten Premier League start ended on Saturday when they lost 2-1 to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
James Justin’s early second-half goal had Leeds fans dreaming of a famous Emirates win. However, the champions fought back to win 2-1 in North London.
Daniel Farke revealed his frustration with referee Paul Tierney’s inconsistency after the game, but conceded he was proud of his players’ performances against the reigning Premier League champions.
But something at the end of the game from Illan Meslier caught many observers by surprise, and even the away end at the Emirates may have been taken aback.
Read More: Arsenal fans can’t stop gushing about ex-Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier after debut: “Is Raya safe?”
Illan Meslier gets his moment with the Leeds fans
The French goalkeeper left Leeds as a free agent in the summer, after spending seven years at the club. He didn’t play a game in his last season with Leeds.
Meslier didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to Leeds fans properly at the end of last season, as he never took the pitch for Daniel Farke’s side.
He joined Arsenal on a free transfer in the summer, and on Saturday he finally got the chance to properly thank a section of the Leed fans.
Video footage of Meslier running towards the away end to say goodbye to the Leeds supporters emerged after the game.
The Frenchman didn’t miss the chance, and despite now playing for Arsenal, he took time to applaud the away end at the Emirates and thank the Leeds supporters.
Meslier gets his goodbye to Leeds fans. #lufc https://t.co/jq3tjB2JxB
— Beren Cross (@BerenCross) October 10, 2026
Read More: “My level is still high” – Illan Meslier fires back at critics after landing Arsenal move
He has a mixed legacy at Leeds United
Illan Meslier’s legacy at Leeds United will always be complicated. At times, the Frenchman looked destined to become one of the club’s great modern goalkeepers, and at others, mistakes threatened to overshadow everything he had achieved.
Meslier arrived at Elland Road as a teenager and became a regular during Leeds’ return to the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa. He was remarkably young for a goalkeeper at that level, and his shot-stopping, composure on the ball, and willingness to play out from the back made him an important part of the team.
He also experienced the difficult side of life at Leeds. Relegation, changing managers, and costly errors brought scrutiny, and supporters became increasingly divided over his performances. For a goalkeeper, those mistakes are particularly hard to escape because people often remember them long after they forget the good saves.
Yet it would be unfair to judge his entire Leeds career through its frustrating final chapters. Meslier was part of a memorable period in the club’s history and spent years as their first-choice goalkeeper.
He may not leave behind the legacy many once imagined, but Leeds should not dismiss his contribution to the club’s Premier League journey. He was a young goalkeeper who grew up in the spotlight, experienced the highs and lows of Elland Road and leaves behind a story that was never quite straightforward.
He will be a first class goalkeeper and Leeds will regret how they lost him