Arsenal will be expected to beat Leeds United when the two sides clash at the Emirates Stadium on October 10.
That is the reality Daniel Farke’s side will face when they walk into the Emirates next weekend. Arsenal have won four of their opening five Premier League games, are chasing another title and have made a strong start despite their defeat to Brighton before the international break.
Leeds, meanwhile, arrive as the unbeaten outsiders.
Few doubt who most people expect to control the game. Arsenal have the home advantage, the greater individual quality and a recent record against Leeds that makes for uncomfortable reading.
But one reason this fixture may not be as straightforward as it looks. Arsenal have already shown this season that they can be made uncomfortable.
Brighton exposed that in their 3-0 win at the Amex. Arsenal struggled to handle the intensity and were repeatedly put under pressure when trying to play out from the back. Mikel Arteta described it as a big lesson.
That should give Leeds something to think about.
Farke doesn’t need an elaborate tactical surprise. He needs to make Arsenal play a game they would rather avoid.
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Leeds have already shown they can cause problems
The first clue came before the Brighton defeat.
Leeds have spent the opening weeks of the season proving they can make life difficult for better-resourced opponents. They took a point away at Brighton, won at Nottingham Forest and then produced their most convincing performance of the campaign against Newcastle.
That 4-1 victory was about more than the scoreline.
Leeds were aggressive, direct and willing to attack Newcastle when opportunities appeared. They forced mistakes, moved the ball quickly and punished the visitors when the game opened up.
That is the version of Leeds Arsenal will not want to see at the Emirates.
Farke also has a defensive foundation to build on. Leeds have conceded just three goals in their opening five league matches, the joint-lowest total in the division at the time of the international break.
They won’t dominate Arsenal for 90 minutes. They probably should not try.
Instead, Leeds need to stay in the game, make Arsenal uncomfortable in possession and be ready to attack the spaces that appear when the home side overcommits.
Brighton showed that those spaces exist.
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The Palace game provided the warning
However, one obvious concern remains for Leeds.
Their last league game was a 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace, and while the result extended their unbeaten start to five matches, it also exposed the other side of Farke’s team. Leeds defended resolutely but struggled to turn promising situations into goals.
That cannot happen too often at the Emirates.
Arsenal are likely to give Leeds fewer clear opportunities than Newcastle did. When those moments arrive, Leeds need to be more ruthless.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has already shown he can be a handful at this level, while the likes of Ao Tanaka, Anton Stach, Noah Okafor and the wing-backs give Leeds different ways of progressing the ball quickly.
The challenge is turning that potential into an actual threat. That’s why Arsenal’s defeat to Brighton should interest Farke more than the scoreline itself.
Leeds have already shown they can press, defend with discipline, and punish teams in transition. They have also shown that they can compete away from home.
Now they need to bring all those qualities together in one afternoon.
Arsenal have already shown Leeds how they can be beaten.
The question is whether Farke’s side can produce the performance required to take advantage of it.
