Many might have mixed feelings about whether or not Leeds United will beat the drop this season, but Mikel Arteta thinks the Whites will.
On Saturday, Leeds United were dealt a huge reality check when they played Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Viktor Gyokeres got his first goals in red and white as Arsenal beat Leeds United 5-0.
It comes after Daniel Farke’s side started this season in style, with Leeds United beating Everton 1-0 in their opening game of the Premier League campaign.
But the defeat against Arsenal is a huge reminder that there’s a huge gulf in class between teams coming up from the Championship and those challenging at the top end of the Premier League.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta looks during a game against Liverpool.
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Mikel Arteta backs Leeds United to stay in the Premier League
Ahead of the game on Saturday, Arsenal signed Ebere Eze from Crystal Palace in a deal worth nearly £70m. And earlier in the summer, Arsenal signed one of the best strikers in Europe in Gyokeres in a deal worth nearly the same amount.
Meanwhile, Leeds United have spent £100m on nine new signings, with the club announcing the signing of Noah Okafor from AC Milan earlier in the week in an £18m deal. The levels are completely different between Arsenal and Leeds, but Gunners boss Mikel Arteta thinks the Whites have enough to stay up this season.
Asked for his opinion on whether or not Leeds United will beat the drop after his side won on Saturday, Arteta told Leeds Live: “I’m sure they will be fine.”
Pascal Struijk in action during Leeds United v Everton - Premier League
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Leeds United’s next five fixtures in the Premier League
Thankfully for Leeds, they don’t have to wait for their first win of the season. That win over Everton gives them a cushion to start the campaign and it takes the nerve off getting those first all-important points.
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But the defeat against Arsenal could spark a poor run of form, especially so with some tough games coming up. On Tuesday, Leeds United play Sheffield Wednesday in the Carabao Cup before returning to Premier League action with a visit from Newcastle United at Elland Road.
Then Leeds United travel to Fulham and Wolves before returning back to Elland Road to play Bournemouth at the end of September. There are certainly some winnable fixtures in that run but no game in the Premier League is winnable, especially for a team coming up from the Championship.
Every point will matter for Leeds United this season and if they can beat the drop then it will certainly be a huge achievement.