Leeds United
Leeds United were brought back down to Earth after facing Arsenal at Elland Road over the weekend. Going into the game, the Whites had a lot of optimism after their form since December.
Daniel Farke managed to turn things around in the team with his tactics and team selection. Leeds had become a formidable team, and had lost just one game this year before the match. No one thought it would be a repeat of what happened early in the season when Daniel Farke’s men were beaten by five goals.
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Leeds were punished on Saturday; after a bright start to the game, Arsenal quickly put two goals past the home side. In the second half, they added two more without reply to seal all three points.
Gary Cahill slams Karl Darlow after Arsenal game
Arsenal terrorized Leeds United all game via set-pieces, with both goals in the first half coming from those situations. The Whites failed to clear their lines from a corner, and the second ball into the box was nodded home for the opener. The second goal saw a corner from Noni Madueke directed into the net by Karl Darlow; the Premier League later awarded the goal to the Arsenal man.
Gary Cahill, who was analysing the game, blamed the Leeds keeper for the goal, saying he could have done much better in that situation.
“I just feel that the goalkeeper, Darlow, has got to do better. I think with the flight of the ball, he needs to read the flight of the ball and just come and take it, be dominant, come and collect it, scream his head off, let the defenders know that he’s there and just deal with the situation.”
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Leeds United must address goalkeeping situation
Daniel Farke benched Lucas Perri after publicly complaining about his errors in the games against Manchester United and Newcastle. Darlow was put in goal and had a decent showing against Everton, but everyone has now forgotten that after this Arsenal performance. Leeds did not attempt to sign a keeper on loan in the January window, which means the 49ers are okay with their current options. But Farke has a tough choice to make in upcoming games; does he bench Darlow for Perri or does he keep the Welsh international in goal. Up next for the Whites is a difficult game against Nottingham Forest.