Daniel Farke is hoping Leeds United can put their latest game swiftly into the bin after admitting his side were second best to Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Defensive mistakes were punished as the Gunners were clinical in leading 3-0 from only four shots midway into the second half while the Whites struggled to create any clear chances in what has to go down as their worst home performance since their return to the top flight. In the end they were lucky to only lose by four after falling apart in the closing stages.
Some of that was down to Arsenal's all-round strength and ultra solid backline clearly, but United were so far off their game that it would be worrying if they repeated this kind of display again in what is now a huge next match against relegation rivals Nottingham Forest on Friday night.
Manager Farke hid his anger after the game and knows that matches against teams like Arsenal are not going to be the most important ones come the end of the season.
Anton Stach tries to create for Leeds United against Arsenal.placeholder image
Anton Stach tries to create for Leeds United against Arsenal.
He said: “We won't dwell on this. I have to say that we have to accept that the better team won this game.
"We faced the best side currently in Europe, there are reasons why this team is sitting top of the table in the Premier League and why this team is the best team currently in Europe - eight wins out of eight Champions League games.
“You need a perfect day in order to give yourself a chance and also a bit of luck that this side perhaps is not there with their best day and not super effective.
"But sadly we we didn't have our very best day and they were on it from the first to the last second and for that they deserved to win this game.
Pascal Struijk slides in but is unable to prevent Gabriel Martinelli from going on to create Arsenal's third goal at Elland Road.placeholder image
Pascal Struijk slides in but is unable to prevent Gabriel Martinelli from going on to create Arsenal's third goal at Elland Road.
"We have to accept their quality today, we have to say congratulations, they were better and for that there is not too much to over-interpret into this game.
"We’ll move on and put this quickly to bed and concentrate on the upcoming tasks.”
The crucial second goal came from a goalkeeping mistake from Karl Darlow in failing to handle one of Arsenal's infamous corners, but Farke thought it was a lack of creativity that had played the biggest part in the defeat.
He explained: "I think in general today the key was that we didn't find the solution to create chances against them, to score goals.
Joe Rodon makes a great recovery tackle to deny Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres.placeholder image
Joe Rodon makes a great recovery tackle to deny Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres.
"Whatever we did, in the first half, against our processes they always found an answer so we changed the base formation in the second half, we brought different type of offensive players on, we brought many offensive thinking players on as well but whatever we did they always had an answer.
"We were not able to really create chances and this was the first part of our game.
"In the first half I can't really remember a chance for them, but obviously set pieces are also a big topic for them. We gave a few too many away.
"We defended the corners pretty spot on but the problem is if you then clear sometimes a corner and there is a second phase and to concede out of this situation was tricky.
Leeds United top scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin go no change out of the Arsenal defenders.placeholder image
Leeds United top scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin go no change out of the Arsenal defenders.
“The second was an own goal, there was not one Arsenal player close to it. Of course we should defend this situation better.
“If you concede two goals like this and you are 2-0 down against the best side in Europe then it was always clear it would be a long afternoon.
“We decided to go for it in the second half and to try with one goal to have a foot back into the door.
"I think we had 20-25 good minutes but we were not able really to create good chances in these moments and take advantage of it and of course to change back to a back four.
"The gaps were then more or less a bit bigger for their offensive players and then Gyokeres and especially Jesus was unbelievable with movement for the fourth goal, they showed then their quality and what they can do if they have a bit more space.”
Leeds started lively enough as they were competitive in the early tackles and managed to get the first shot on goal when Joe Rodon won the ball high up the pitch and Ethan Ampadu's shot from the edge of the box went just over.
Arsenal responded with Martin Zubimendi's shot from distance being comfortably saved by Darlow.
The Gunners then started to exert some pressure, but created nothing until going ahead when a 27th minute corner was not effectively cleared and Noni Madueke's cross was headed home by Zubimendi.
Another corner brought a second goal 11 minutes later as Darlow punched the ball into his own net with no Arsenal players challenging for the ball from Madueke's inswinging delivery.
That was it for meaningful action in a first half in which the Whites had failed to land a blow on their opponents, but were hardly played off the pitch by the table toppers.
Farke responded by changing the system from a back three to a back four and the initial signs were hopeful as Arsenal were finally pushed back for a spell.
Pascal Struijk went closest to a home goal with a header from a corner, but it was an easy save for David Raya.
Viktor Gyokeres raced clear at the other end, but Rodon, who had lost him, recovered to get back and make a great tackle. The resulting corner saw Jurrien Timber head over.
The noise level went up as the Whites tried to hit back, but they struggled to create anything against their opponents' impressive back four and it was effectively game over when the Gunners scored their third goal.
Again it was not good defending as Gabriel Martinelli was allowed to get a cross in after Struijk was drawn out wide and Rodon appeared to let the ball go. Gyokeres then beat Jayden Bogle to the ball to volley home off his shin from close range.
Leeds' heads dropped now and it could have been any score at the end with chances galore suddenly for the visitors.
Darlow denied them twice with saves, but the visitors took one of their opportunities with the lively Gabriel Jesus easily beating Struijk to turn in the box and fire home into the bottom corner of the net.
United surprisingly avoided conceding more, but after they way they had fallen apart in the closing stages it was a relief when the final whistle went.
After all their recent impressive displays it was a sobering experience and in their two games with Arsenal this season they have let in nine goals without a single reply.
(Zubimendi 27, Darlow og 38, Gyokeres 69, Jesus 86)
Saturday, January 31, 2026
Premier League
Attendance: 36,858
Leeds: Darlow; Justin (Okafor 45), Rodon, Struijk; Bogle, Ampadu, Gruev (Longstaff 45), Gudmundsson; Stach (Gnonto 80), Aaronson (Buonanotte 80); Calvert-Lewin (Piroe 85).
Arsenal: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie (Calafiori 75); Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke (Martinelli 61), Havertz (Odegaard 61), Trossard (Eze 81); Gyokeres (Jesus 75).
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Continue Reading