Mikel Arteta already had Leeds United on his mind when Arsenal suffered their first Premier League defeat of the season.
After Brighton’s 3-0 win on September 19, the Arsenal boss was asked about the challenge awaiting his side after the international break. His answer was brief but telling.
The Gunners manager said: “We know what it takes to win every single match, and we know what it’s going to take to win against Leeds when we come back.”
It was hardly a glowing assessment of Leeds, but it clearly indicated that Arteta expects a serious test at the Emirates.
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Arteta knows Leeds will be a test
Arsenal had been perfect in the Premier League before Brighton ended that run, and Arteta was clearly unhappy with his team’s performance.
He admitted Brighton deserved the win and described the defeat as a “big lesson” for his players.
Now Leeds are the first team standing in Arsenal’s way.
Daniel Farke’s side have gone unbeaten through their opening five league matches, collecting nine points. The 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace before the international break was hardly a classic, but it extended Leeds’ unbeaten start.
They will arrive at the Emirates as underdogs, but not as a side that can simply be dismissed. Arteta seems to understand that.
Leeds have shown enough early in the season to suggest they can make life uncomfortable for Arsenal, particularly with Farke continuing to use a back three and giving his side a solid defensive base.
Arsenal, meanwhile, need a response.
That makes the fixture particularly interesting. Arteta will want his players to put the Brighton performance behind them immediately, while Leeds will see the game as an opportunity to show how far they have come since returning to the Premier League.
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Leeds have caught Arteta’s attention before
This is not the first time Arteta has spoken about how difficult it is to face Leeds.
Back in 2020, when Marcelo Bielsa was in charge, the Arsenal boss famously compared playing Leeds to “going to the dentist” after his side’s FA Cup victory over them.
The teams and managers have changed since then, but the challenge has not disappeared.
Farke’s Leeds are a very different proposition from Bielsa’s side, yet they remain energetic and competitive, and they can make opponents work for everything.
Arteta will know that better than most. His latest comments suggest he is already preparing his players for that challenge.
For Leeds, that’s quite satisfying.
Arsenal are expected to win at home. They have considerably greater resources and are coming off a disappointing result they will be desperate to respond.
But Arteta has already made one thing clear. He knows beating Leeds will take something from Arsenal.
Now Farke’s job is to make sure his players prove him right.
