Match Day Thread Arsenal V Leeds Utd

First half we never took our chances but our football was very good.

Second half the Arsenal manager looked at how to beat our style of play and with a group of premier league players on between £100k and £200k a week you’d expect them to improve and they did.

At the time I thought Costa on for Alioski was the right move but I’d have done a straight swap, Harrison was awesome on the right, a shame Alioski still strays offside so much as apart from that it was a great performance from him.

Costa looked lightweight though, he didn’t have the best of games but again, look at the difference in quality of player.

I enjoyed that, Bielsa played a strong team, Arteta likewise and we went for it, I’d be happy for virtually the same 11 to start in the same positions, with the exception of a Gotts but then is it fair to judge a debut against a strong Arsenal side away from home.

 

I said it last season, but I really believe if/when you go up, you would thrive. You have the support, you have the infrastructure, and you have the youth system in place to crank them out.

If the rumours about the PSG owners wanting to buy you is also true, then you would have the money as well.

I supposed its just about making it there at this point.

 

Gotts did ok but looked leggy second half... then with Dallas replacing gotts and shortly afterwards having to go to right back, we lost control in midfield second half.

Fair play to them they pressed us hard second half.

 

Arsenal fan here. Unlucky lads, thought we didn't deserve to win that in all honesty.

You completely bamboozled us in the first-half. Made us look like a pub side. Ran rings around our midfield and our defence was very jittery. Second-half was more even, but I felt we edged it. However, you unquestionably had the best chances in the game. And we fielded a stronger team than I anticipated, so your boys have done you proud this evening.

Your fitness levels were superior to ours too, which says a lot considering we are supposed to be a top 6 Premier League club.

All the best in your promotion bid. I really hope you guys can do it. It's been far too long without Leeds in the Prem. You deserve to be competing in the top division again.

 

This is why I was hoping Bielsa would play a full strength team, our players did well tonight and, even though we lost will take great encouragement from the game and give them more belief in themselves, they will know with a bit more luck and a referee who wasn't inept, bent or whatever, we could have had that game won in the first half.
saying that, we may get ****ing stuffed next game WE ARE LEEDS

 

Only thing I'll say is your players need to learn to stay onside It completely disrupted your momentum when you attacked.

 

Fair play fella

 

Yes I was there, why do you thing Arsenal play in Wales ?

 

Well played today.

Thought you lot played a fantastic game. Better quality football than a lot of Prem games. You had great tactics, seems Bielsa has you playing good football but also has all the players knowing their roles and how he wants to play which is so important to continued success.

You were unlucky not to take any of your first half chances. I was accepting it was going to be an upset in the first half, then Arteta gave the team a good half time shouting at and we came out fighting. Pushed up higher, stopped you transitioning so easily (which you did amazingly in the first half) and put the pressure onto you. Once we scored I think the wind was taken out of your lot but it was a game of fine margins and could have gone either way. A hard fought win in the end.

It was nice to see a game with lots of tactics on show whilst still playing attractive football and also a game with bite that didn’t turn nasty. I’ll look forward to our game next season in the prem

 

Even the Arsenal fans liked the(we're Leeds United we'll kick who we want) after the second var red card was rejected.

 

Let's face it - when we were in the PL, we'd have been happy with that performance & scoreline. And will be next year too. We were away to Arsenal, and got a result that would have pleased many PL teams. They might have been struggling of late, but appear to be in the ascendancy under Arteta.

One of our best London performances over the last few years, ironically enough.

I still don't understand what happened in the second half. Was it a positive change by Arsenal that scuppered us, perhaps a tactical change - or did they just have an attitude adjustment? Or was it something negative we did?

 

Finished off the saying for you.

 

They pressed a lot higher which made us make a few more passing mistakes.

 

Ooooh matron

 

They just had that little bit of quality which £30/50million pounds strikers brings, but we matched a good side, proud of the lads today.

 

My take on tonight. We showed we can be comfortable if we get to the pl with the right investment. Team and fans were a credit to the club and surprised lots of neutrals looking on I’d imagine. I hate var. pl referees seemingly no better than championship. Meslier looked real deal. Would like to have seen him have to deal with a few crosses to see what he’s like with them. Roll on Saturday and another three points hopefully.

 

Like most I feel aggrieved we didn't at least force a replay...oops, I mean like most I feel pleased we didn't force a replay.

Anyway whichever, we put on a really good showing and the team must surely take confidence from a very impressive first half. Our weaknesses showed after the break when Arsenal adopted similar tactics to Preston, we just couldn't move the ball either quickly or accurately enough...something for Bielsa to work on there for sure.

Far more positives than negatives as we now face the final 20 games that will dictate the next 5 to 10 years.

The good news is we've proven we can mix it with the big boys, but it's also clear we need to sprinkle some stardust and goals upon the team.

Bowen and Woodrow definitely fit the bill and would probably cost in the region of £20 million but this investment needs to happen now.

If it doesn't work out then fine, we'll have to sell to balance the books and I think that's something we would all accept.

It's most definitely now or never.

 

...Would love Bowen in this side.

You’re right about the press... truth is it’s much easier to dish out than deal with. We’re very good at playing out from the back but struggle like everyone else if sides are aggressive and surround the ball carrier/receiver in numbers.

The ref let so much go, it became a bit of an arm wrestle at times in the second half and they were stronger... we won the chess in the first half and they won the scrap in the second. Bit embarrassing when you consider its arsenal we’re talking about... but we’re a team of pygmies.

Played some great stuff first half. Performance to be proud of.

 

Anyone else think Radz should go see that Teak Trading fella for a loan ???

 

If we fail to make it now through failures on the field, bad luck, a load of injuries I’ll be surprised and gutted. But if we fail due to an apparent lack of investment again while we’re within touching distance of the big prize, I think a real feeling of anger is more likely. Need to repeat tonight’s first half in at least half the remaining games