Leeds Utd v Arsenal Match Thread

[Finnatic]

Like some of us do, John.

The Gooners are elite athletes, some of their play was world-class.

It’s our poorest game in twelve or is it thirteen games?
That’s not bad really.
As you both said, just move on.

[weasel]

Bijol was the catalyst for our up turn in form.
I prefer a midfield with BA alongside Stach and Amps. Gruev brings no energy to the team, particularly if we are playing a low block and looking to counter.

Me too

[weasel]

Like some of us do, John.

The Gooners are elite athletes, some of their play was world-class.

Sadly it is the reality of where we are that if the likes of Arsenal, City, Liverpool and some others are on their game then it is very tough for us to get anything. Always a case of needing them to have a bit of an off day and all our players having really good games.

All about picking up points elsewhere and trying to keep ourselves comfortably above the point per game average.

[1964white]

It’s our poorest game in twelve or is it thirteen games?
That’s not bad really.
As you both said, just move on.

For the best, Finn

Steve (the original White Riot on here) applauded our players as they walked around the pitch to a half-empty stadium.

[1964white]

Gnonto has looked better than Buonanotte and I really want Buonanotte to be good

Hadn't realised how tiny Buonanotte is?

He resembled a schoolboy from the kop.

It must have seemed like the Land of the Giants to Buinanotte & Gnonto when they came on.

[1964white]

That East Stand is looking embarrassing. It’s like watching the Wendies.

You should have seen the West Stand.

[1964white]

One corner for them every seven and a half minutes this game.

Some of us were saying on the coach journey to ER, "We must not give too many corners away"

At least three of those corners seemed needless from where I was stood.

[1964white]

He's a bit of a flat-track bully DCL we've seen it before.

Defenders his physical equal tend to pocket him quite easily.

That being said was hardly a helpful setup today

Calvert-Lewin was isolated & up against it vs the best defence in the Premier & Champions League.

[CHAPELALLMAN]

That's 6 points from our last 6 matches.

Friday night at home to Forest is a must win.

West Ham are away to Chelsea today and away to Burnley next Saturday.

All those draws in games we might have won, plus the late Newcastle collapse after being ahead at full time are starting to look more expensive now. I couldn't believe the complacency that had set in amongst some fans after the Newcastle game. It was like " so what, we've had a good run...we can compete with anybody. "

[1964white]

Before people start the usual stuff about Arsenal have a great squad, blah, blah.

Forest played them a few weeks ago and managed to get a draw.

That's football for you, James.

Arsenal were magnificent today.

[CHAPELALLMAN]

Some of us were saying on the coach journey to ER, "We must not give too many corners away"

At least three of those corners seemed needless from where I was stood.

Lots of corners, and without our best CB in terms of aerial defensive ability.

[1964white]

Correct me if I am wrong but the Knit Pickers will be here soon finding fault here and there

Instead of admitting Arsenal are in a different class
The "Farke must Go" fanfare will in full cry

I have got my Tin Helmet on and am ready

Unfortunately yes,

Of course, It has nothing to do with how magnificent Arsenal's billions worth assembled squad were today for some.

Not one of players would walk into the Gooners squad.

[1964white]

We were poor today. We can beat Forest Friday (and we should do). We can give Chelsea a game and Man City? We gave them a game up there but... no sitting back and trying to get them on the counter with a defensive setup like today (are you listening Mr Manager)? We need to get at them from the off. We play like we did against Chelsea at home and we can beat anybody.

I do believe Farke sets us up to be far too cautious/negative at home sometimes. We should always 'go for it' at home. We expect it...

It wouldn't have mattered how Farke set us up today.

[Cjay]

Calvert-Lewin was isolated & up against it vs the best defence in the Premier & Champions League.

But when JP played Arsenal and was isolated against two of the best defenders in the league It was all his fault

Regardless DCL was poor today, ball never stuck at all

One of many who were poor tbf.

[1964white]

We just aren't the same defensively without Bijol as our central CB. Easily our best CB for dealing with aerial threats.

I did say earlier in the week, we'd miss Bijol against this giant Arsenal team,

[Cjay]

Unfortunately yes,

Of course, It has nothing to do with how magnificent Arsenal's billions worth assembled squad were today for some.

Not one of players would walk into the Gooners squad.

Not one of Bodo/Glimt players walk into Man City or Atletico Madrid squads, they beat them both.

I dislike that sort of mentality immensely, we aren't a plucky league 2 side.

We should be atleast competitive not send out a defensive lineup and go down with a whimper.

[1964white]

If we stop winning at least some of our home games then we are in big trouble.

We have only lost home games to two of the top three Arsenal & Villa, and to Spurs when they were going well earlier in the season.

[Pullhard]

Chelsea did us a massive favour today, eventually.

[1964white]

Not one of Bodo/Glimt players walk into Man City or Atletico Madrid squads, they beat them both.

I dislike that sort of mentality immensely, we aren't a plucky league 2 side.

We should be atleast competitive not send out a defensive lineup and go down with a whimper.

Not being competitive was the disappointment for me!

[Cjay]

Gruev is a better fit atm alongside Ampadu than anyone else, if we stay up can we can improve on him? - absolutely.
Off the top of my head, I’d bet that Leeds’ performances /results are better when he’s on the pitch than when he’s not since he first broke into the team.
Hopefully Cjay might have some stats…

We've lost 10 games this season and Gruev didn't get off the bench in 6 of them.

Of the games he did start 2 of them were vs Arsenal and 1 was Man City (the other being Newcastle) in terms of defeats.

In terms of ppg it's worse when Gruev starts but in context would we have got different results vs Man City and Arsenal without him? Probably not.