Leeds United had a nightmare away day in London as they were thumped 5-0 by Arsenal.
It was only the second defeat in 30 games for Daniel Farke’s side, but this one showed the hard reality of Premier League football.
The Whites had gone into the game with hope after beating Everton on the opening day, but at the Emirates they were miles off the pace.
Arsenal were too strong, too quick, and too clever, leaving Leeds with no chance once the goals started flying in.
Former striker Jermaine Beckford said after the match it was a “real wake-up call” for Leeds, and fans will agree.
Farke Not Happy With His Defence
After the game, boss Daniel Farke did not name names directly, but it was clear he was not happy with some of his players at the back.
Leeds conceded goals far too easily and Farke mentioned “centre-halves” and the “keeper” when talking about mistakes.
Many fans believe the three players he meant were Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk, and new goalkeeper Lucas Perri.
leedsunited.com, leedsunited.news
All of them struggled badly against the Gunners’ attack. Supporters are already asking if Illan Meslier should come back into the team instead of Perri.
Farke also spoke about the way Arsenal found it easy to cut through Leeds’ defence.
He had promised before the game that his side would attack and not sit back, but that plan left big gaps which Arsenal punished.
Even pundit Gary Neville said Leeds’ tactics made it “too simple” for Mikel Arteta’s men.
Midfield Problems And Tanaka Injury Worry
It wasn’t just the defence where Leeds had issues. Arsenal’s midfield was far too strong and powerful.
Japanese star Ao Tanaka also gave fans a scare when he went off injured in the second half.
Farke later revealed he had a problem with his MCL after a first-half tackle.
The good news is Tanaka managed to play on for a while, which suggests it may not be too serious.
Still, Leeds will wait for medical checks to know for sure.
Losing him for any length of time would be a big blow, as he has been an important part of the midfield.
Big Lessons To Learn
Leeds now know exactly how tough the Premier League is.
Arsenal are one of the best sides in the league, and while this result hurts, Farke made it clear it is not season-defining.
Leeds need to regroup quickly and focus on the next game.
The defence must tighten up, new players have to settle fast, and the team has to show they can compete at this level.
For the fans, it was a painful afternoon, but it is still early in the season.
Leeds will hope this heavy defeat becomes a lesson that makes them stronger for the battles ahead.
For more Leeds United news, gear and match updates, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates directly to your phone.
Get real time update about this post category directly on your device, subscribe now.
Discover more from Leeds United News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
