James Justin says Leeds United’s disappointment after the defeat at Arsenal shows the Leeds progress since last season. The defender scored the opening goal, but Arsenal came back to win 2-1 and end Leeds’ unbeaten start to the Premier League season.
Image credit: Leeds United official website. James Justin applauds the travelling fans after the game.
Justin sees Leeds progress at Arsenal
Speaking to TNT Sports after the final whistle, in comments carried by Leeds’ official website, Justin said the disappointment was a good sign. “Because we came here last year and we were nowhere near the level and today we proved how far we have come from the start of last season,” he said.
That comparison does not turn a defeat into a success. However, Justin was clear that the players expect more from themselves, and he sees that feeling as a positive.
Justin on Leeds progress and the lessons from Arsenal
“There are a lot of positives to take from the game but also things we can learn,” Justin said. He added that Leeds were playing “one of the best sides in the world”, so Arsenal were always going to build momentum and put them under pressure.
“We coped well through the majority of the game but, yeah, there is a reason why they are up there,” he said. Justin felt Leeds progress had been proved because they could compete, but the result showed there is still work to do.
Leeds can hold their heads up
Justin finished on a forward-looking note about Leeds progress. “We have still got time to get there yet,” he said, adding that there are positives Leeds can take out of the game and that they “can hold our heads up high”.
Our Arsenal 2-1 Leeds match report covers the goals, and Daniel Farke’s reaction adds the manager’s view. Because both reactions stress pride in the performance, the next step for Leeds is turning that progress into points.
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