Leeds Utd v Arsenal Match Thread - Raphinha, Phillips and Alioski start, Rodrigo makes the bench by

[andrewjohnsmith]

Really pleased with the performance today. Even before the sending off we dominated the first half. Look at those stats. We're a promoted team totally dominating a top 6 team. We should have scored 3 or 4. That's the only negative. We can say the number of chances we hit the framerok was unlucky - as was Dallas with the Leno save. But there were several bad misses too. I think it's that little amount of class that we're just short of. But otherwise we have everything to be pleased about.

Really liked the way Alioski played today and how Dallas did in midfield. Koch was class, Cooper was solid at the back. We dominated the midfield with the combination of Klich, Dallas, and Phillips and great to see KP back, he really improves the shape of the team.

Raphinha had a good first start. I thought he was quiet for periods but he had some real moments of class. Rodrigo was great when he came on - I'm sure it was just a question of stamina that he didn't start. Imagine Raphinha and Rodrigo starting together - probably that little x-factor that we're missing.

[CHAPELALLMAN]

Really pleased with the performance today. Even before the sending off we dominated the first half. Look at those stats. We're a promoted team totally dominating a top 6 team. We should have scored 3 or 4. That's the only negative. We can say the number of chances we hit the framerok was unlucky - as was Dallas with the Leno save. But there were several bad misses too. I think it's that little amount of class that we're just short of. But otherwise we have everything to be pleased about.

Really liked the way Alioski played today and how Dallas did in midfield. Koch was class, Cooper was solid at the back. We dominated the midfield with the combination of Klich, Dallas, and Phillips and great to see KP back, he really improves the shape of the team.

Raphinha had a good first start. I thought he was quiet for periods but he had some real moments of class. Rodrigo was great when he came on - I'm sure it was just a question of stamina that he didn't start. Imagine Raphinha and Rodrigo starting together - probably that little x-factor that we're missing.

Just one thing - I very much doubt that Arsenal are now a top 6 team.

[Cjay]

Did anyone else think we were a little bit less gung ho today before the sending off?

Didnt sit back and probably had more possession but we seemed more controlled.

Think thats progress imo, last thing we want is for teams to treat us like Man City or Liverpool because we wont win games that way.

We need teams to feel like they can come out against us and today felt like we invited Arsenal on a bit more.

Overall happy with our start.

Frustrating because we should have more points imo.

Wolves we deserved a point at least.
Man City we should have won.
Even Palace we had chances and probably deserved something and today we should have won.

Thats 6 points imo we could have had, even 3 more would have been more reflective of what we deserve i think.

But thats probably negative of being a newly promoted side with still a generally Championship squad.

The collective wont always get what it deserves because of individual deficiencies in key moments

We will be fine imo, can see us finishing between 13th and 8th.

Hopefully add 1 more piece of the puzzle in Januaryand slowly build

[andrewjohnsmith]

Did anyone else think we were a little bit less gung ho today before the sending off?

Didnt sit back and probably had more possession but we seemed more controlled.

Think thats progress imo, last thing we want is for teams to treat us like Man City or Liverpool because we wont win games that way.

We need teams to feel like they can come out against us and today felt like we invited Arsenal on a bit more.

Overall happy with our start.

Frustrating because we should have more points imo.

Wolves we deserved a point at least.
Man City we should have won.
Even Palace we had chances and probably deserved something and today we should have won.

Thats 6 points imo we could have had, even 3 more would have been more reflective of what we deserve i think.

But thats probably negative of being a newly promoted side with still a generally Championship squad.

The collective wont always get what it deserves because of individual deficiencies in key moments

We will be fine imo, can see us finishing between 13th and 8th.

Hopefully add 1 more piece of the puzzle in Januaryand slowly build

We did seem more controlled. Firstly it helped having Phillips back. The team benefits a lot more from his flexibility. Also putting Dallas in midfield and not having a #10 was pretty clear intent of that. Both KP and Dallas helped us dominate the middle.

Agree that we should have more points. It's hard to say we should have had points here or there because potentially we could have dropped points against Fulham, lost against City. But if I were to rate us overall, I'd say we deserve to be mid table (10th)

And I agree with adding slowly. 1 in Januray would be ideal (a couple more in summer). If we try to sign too many we risk losing the chemistry that makes us so effective right now.

[HarryofOz]

Maybe in the opening stages we were a bit more cautious but it wasn't long before we were fully committed to throwing players into the attack.

Maybe having Phillips back and two central midfielders who are good/experienced defensively in Dallas and Klich helped us be more solid as a defensive unit.

[Smudge3920]

After the last few weeks, in todays game I saw some real positives in the direction we are going... The tempo of the game seemed much more controlled, no doubt having Kalvin back greatly helped with this, but it was more than that. Even though the possesion stats show we played our normal run and gun game, we didn't it was (imo) much more methodical. Raphina starting was good to see, I think that Alioski now he has another contract signed really showed, for me the best game he has played this season and a deserved MotM. He really wants to be a part of this team, and if he can irritate players like he did Pepe today, going forward that will be immense.
Llorente yet to come, has to be paired with Koch, and Rodrigo has proven beyond doubt that he should be starting now.
We have a long way to go, but lets be honest here, we only brought in 4 players (1st team) so we are still playing with the bulk of our championship side...MB turned that championship side from a mid table team to champions (10pts) in 2 years, we are now sitting in a healthy position in the prem. Hopefully we find a good fit in January to bring in, and a couple more in the summer...The future is bright.

25 shots today zero return, well 3 hit the woodwork, a couple of excellent saves by the gooners kp. A little "luck" and we had a 2 or 3 nil game. But we had a clean sheet and stopped the rot.

[1964white]

Maybe in the opening stages we were a bit more cautious but it wasn't long before we were fully committed to throwing players into the attack.

Maybe having Phillips back and two central midfielders who are good/experienced defensively in Dallas and Klich helped us be more solid as a defensive unit.

Without any doubt Harry

[mothbanquet]

What we were seeing tonight, especially once Rodders came on, was the future of our team, the beginnings of an XI that will become a big team in the Premier League. We hit the woodwork 3 times, we literally did everything but score. But outside of scoring we saw some positively jaw dropping moves that almost got us results. We saw Bamford with good instincts and confidence, but just either choose the wrong finish or get unlucky. Leno having a worldie against us - nothing we can really do about that.

We looked like the top 6 team last night, no mistaking it. I think I needed to see that after the last 2 games, where we looked like a newly promoted team. Last night we looked the business at times, and that is what we'll see more of the longer the season progresses with our best quality players in the team. If Rodders had started, he'd have buried at least one of the chances that fell to Dallas.

Let's all have a round of applause at Alio's world-class sh*thousery!

[HarryofOz]

Stolen from elsewhere

Pepe will miss the Spurs game following his red card. Spurs are set to appeal the decision.

[Gandalf]

Am I the only one who thoroughly enjoyed that performance ? Yes, I know that the draw was a slight disappointment after the way we played. However, we still demolished an Arsenal side, and if we had had a little bit of the luck that Palace had against us with deflections etc, we would have won comfortably. We have what it takes for a mid-table finish, which is really all we could expect. It takes time to build a squad that can compete for top six. Bring on Everton.

[Aussieleeds]

Whenever we have had close to our best eleven we have performed well. Can’t ask for more than that from a newly promoted team.

[mothbanquet]

Am I the only one who thoroughly enjoyed that performance ?

Nope, really enjoyed the match.

[Chilli D]

Just one thing - I very much doubt that Arsenal are now a top 6 team.

I think they're referred to as one of the 'big 6' rather than top 6 due to the size of their crowds, money they can spend on players etc.
I can't remember who they got Pepe from but they must be pissing themselves that Arsenal gave them 70 million for him.

[Fridge]

Meslier
Ayling, Koch, Cooper, Dallas
Phillips
Raphinha, Rodrigo, Klich, Harrison
Bamford

This team is comfortable good enough to get a result at Everton for me. Let's get another clean sheet and push on for that goal

[Boo Radley]

It was heartening to see us play better than we’ve done recently and still be brave in spite of a couple of skinnings. Some of our link up play at speed was top class and there was more of an effort to pick players out on cut backs from the end line, especially by Harrison. We should have had two goals out of this alone but both Dallas and Klich were wasteful.

Some of our passing was worryingly poor. Ayling was the main offender. I don’t know if he was under more pressure or just trying to prove a point against Arsenal but it was a rare poor day for him. Klich and Koch were also guilty of sloppiness in some of their passing.

Some of our play out from defence is as high risk as you’ll see and it isn’t good for the heart. Having said that it worked. If it didn’t, we would definitely concede. Teams will see this and work harder than Arsenal to rob a pass near our own box. I hope we just cut down on some of the riskier cross pitch passing.

Rodrigo was excellent when he came on and will have to start next week. Raphinha is still tuning in, as are the team with him. He made some great runs but wasn’t picked out. I do think Pablo is a loss in this area. He will do the unusual thing and we need that.

It was disappointing not to win this when it was there for the taking. Everton and Chelsea are better than Arsenal so we may regret the two dropped points. On the other hand we are improving again and maturing around our attack and high press. I just hope we practice hitting the target in training this week. One win from the next two would be a fine return.

[Leeds1000]

Leno made a stunning save from a shot by Dallas that was heading for the top corner

All about opinions 64. I thought Meslier staying on his feet and pushing their player wide and then making the save was a better piece of goalkeeping. Their keeper got mom for what? One good save and a routine one from Bamford. We made the keeper work twice out of 24 shots.

[1964white]

All about opinions 64. I thought Meslier staying on his feet and pushing their player wide and then making the save was a better piece of goalkeeping. Their keeper got mom for what? One good save and a routine one from Bamford. We made the keeper work twice out of 24 shots.

Both Meslier & Leno did well yesterday

[Leeds1000]

I think the Dallas one where he is in plenty of space and then he drags it wide was the miss of the match. You have to be making the keeper work from there. I don't now why we think in precise terms?.... just bang the thing. That's why i like Alioski shooting, he does exactly that, and ok yesterday it ended in row Z but hit it hard and make the keeper work.

[Leeds1000]

Everton won't be parking the bus either.

We need to up our game from set-peices or Calvert-Lewin will have us for breakfast.

[Leeds1000]

i'm not sure if we were really good or arsenal were just really poor...

A mixture of both Dan. I honestly thought Arsenal were really poor. I don't see them anywhere near the top 6. Ok they had some big players out but they should have a squad "like for like" with all the cash they have thrown at it.

And i here Alioski is getting slated for on social media for diving? WTF the guy headbutted him what's he supposed to do? This is not the 1970's. Steven Gerrard used to go down like he had been shot. That's how it is these days people need to get with the programme . And i'm a old fashioned git.