Daniel Farke, like all managers, has to be careful not to fall into a detrimental cycle
It's harsh to judge this issue against the champions but some overall facts remain true
It's harsh to judge this issue against the champions but some overall facts remain true(Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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Last summer it was raising the floor, and this year it was raising the ceiling. When it came to these transfer aims, Leeds United completed the missions.
But what about the space in between? Just how big is that gap? Ideally, any club wants it to be as tight as possible, where the quality of the team does not dip when rotations are made.
It’s too early to fully judge where Leeds are in this respect yet, and the axiom of any team is that those on the bench are weaker than the starting XI. But there are emerging grumblings about what Daniel Farke has in reserve.
Leeds set up with the strongest line-up they had available at Arsenal, and out of those injured only Joe Rodon would have had a proper shout of getting onto the teamsheet. As it happens, the form of James Justin, Nico Elvedi and Tarik Muharemovic means his absence is not much of a topic.
United battled Arsenal for just over an hour, producing frequent final-third jabs before Justin landed his heavy blow on 55 minutes, having got a bloodied nose himself from a tussle with Noni Madueke in the first half.
The financial comparison between the Arsenal and Leeds benches are cataclysmic. Goalscorer Bruno Guimaraes alone - £75million from Newcastle United this summer - cost more than the United bench, in initial fees, combined (£61.3m).
Even should the purchase clauses of loanees Jean-Matteo Bahoya and Melvin Bard be included, Leeds’ bench cost of £87m was dwarfed by Arsenal’s £364m. It was this that ultimately proved the difference on Saturday, by a single goal.
But never mind the gap between the two dugouts, Leeds fans are mindful of the drop-off within their own squad. While supporters agreed that Arsenal’s bench won the game, a number have aired bubbling angst over how their own substitutes are faring.
Farke has named the same line-up for the past four games and understandably, given performances and results. Meanwhile, a substitute has yet to score in any of the six Premier League games so far.
Only Lukas Nmecha has bagged an assist from the bench, expertly teeing up Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s equaliser against Brentford - the last time the line-up looked different for a league game.
To emphasise the point inversely, the only occasion substitutes have combined for a goal so far was when Noah Okafor set up for Calvert-Lewin in the 6-3 League Cup defeat to Chelsea - two players who would normally start a game.
On Saturday, Leeds’ first changes came a few seconds after going 2-1 down, and it was likely Harry Wilson and Brenden Aaronson were being readied to help provide more stability amid stretched legs before Guimaraes powered home.
Bruno Guimaraes cost more than the whole of Leeds United's bench
Bruno Guimaraes cost more than the whole of Leeds United's bench(Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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The complexion of the match therefore changed and neither substitute could make headway, in part due to Farke ultimately switching to a 4-4-2 in an attempt to rescue a point by utilising his attackers.
At the final whistle, Leeds had five of these on the pitch - not including Anton Stach, who had started the game as a wide 10, or the marauding wing-back Gabriel Gudmundsson. The manager did try to go for it, away at the champions no less.
And it is misguided to critique Leeds too much given the brazen context and bulk of performance. Yet it is true that after the hour-mark, even before the equaliser went in, Leeds could not keep up their high-tempo press.
When legs were called for, it was too late. Farke has often faced criticism for leaving it too long to bring on his substitutes, through all three-and-a-half years of his reign.
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Yet against Brentford, he made two half-time changes that ultimately led to a result. And across his six Premier League games, the average time for the first substitution has been in the 64th minute - down from the average of 73rd-minute since January.
So it is not as though Farke is not trusting his squad. But the quality coming from the bench has not yet been witnessed. There are several reasons for this.
First is the obvious result of bench players not being used that often - they do not have chance to get up to match sharpness, and the longer this goes on, the more drastic the drop-off naturally becomes.
Another point to make is Ilia Gruev has not long returned from a long-term knee injury, while Jean-Matteo Bahoya and Melvin Bard arrived late in the summer. Wilson’s underwhelming start is another factor in this.
Harry Wilson has only started two of Leeds United's seven games so far
Harry Wilson has only started two of Leeds United's seven games so far(Image: Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
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Farke has admitted the Welshman is not 100% there with the tactical cohesion yet. While the same can obviously be said of the two deadline day arrivals, Wilson - admittedly a free signing - was the first recruit of the summer and has so far been disappointing.
But there is still plenty of time, not just for him but all newbies. The hope is that they take their opportunities as they become more accustomed to Farke’s demands and system.
Yet at the same time, Farke has no reason to change his XI currently, amid a lack of competition from the bench. And so the potentially-dangerous cycle continues.
It’s a problem every manager will have but the next month or so will be important; the bedding in period will be over and players will be expected to deliver. After that, a truer judgement can be made.