Leeds United’s 5-0 defeat to Arsenal will have dented squad confidence, though perhaps it more damages their PR than chances of survival. The game against title challengers indeed will not define their season, as in the words of Daniel Farke.
There is a real sense even among managers now that these trophy hunters are essentially in another realm and that the rest merely do well to give them a game. That, Leeds did not.
On the back foot all match, no United player came out with any credit. The chasm was clear, even before kick off. Eberechi Eze’s unveiling pre-match means Arsenal have now spent more than £1billion on transfers under Mikel Arteta.
Despite that eye-watering figure, it was the day for academy products with Eze a former youth talent, Bukayo Saka scoring then going off injured and 15-year-old Max Dowman grabbing the headlines upon his substitute's showing.
That said, their £55million signing Viktor Gyokeres did score twice and that’s the difference. Leeds can only dream on spending that amount on one player.
What made the loss disappointing was the manner of the goals - two corners, a penalty and two lapses of defensive concentration. For 34 minutes, Leeds had kept the ball out.
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In that time, they had had their best half-chances - Pascal Struijk forcing David Rays into a save and Daniel James breaking away to shoot into the legs of defenders. But once the first goal went in, Leeds were always chasing.
Farke tried to employ his usual style of play but with the break on - it didn’t work. Even before the opening goal, Arsenal dominated and found gaps.
The issue with the game was less the scoreline than a lack of a plan B. This can be forgiven against an Arsenal but it begs the question of what Farke will try to do if two goals down to a Fulham or a Bournemouth.
It’s against the non big-seven teams that United’s fate will be decided. As for Arteta’s view, he believes they will survive given their intentions. “I think (they will stay up),” he said.
“I am very complimentary of them. What I love is they will maintain that philosophy from Monday (vs Everton). I’m sure they will be fine.”
The crucial point missed here is staying married to one ideology as a newly-promoted team is not enough to stay in the division.
For a club backed by riches and global attraction, it is easier to justify a one-philosophy mantra, as Arteta has done with Arsenal. For promoted teams, it might be brave to play one way but it’s not sensible.
This is where a back up plan needs to be developed and fine tuned. Leeds did try to mix it up eventually, going both short and long.
Neither produced fruit and it was hard to see what Leeds were trying to do to combat the onslaught. That is the over-riding takeaway worry that must be addressed.
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