I started writing this preview with what I thought was a very clever construct: it started with the Lydian chromatic tonal organization concept in Jazz to Lydian mode to the ancient kingdom of Lydia (in modern Anatolia) to Leeds, but there was no way I could squeeze in even the wildest linguistic theory connecting the etymology of Lydia (apparently named after Ledus the king, as per Herodotus) to Leeds, which derives its name from the old Brittonic Lātēnses, meaning “violent”, most likely in reference to the river Aire. So, rest assured, this preview will not contain the annoying preambles about non-footballing esoterica.
I have never been to Leeds, or anywhere really in west Yorkshire, and so have never noticed whether their rivers are violent or not. And given that I am not remotely English, it would be unfair of me to comment/joke on the modern relevance of the city’s ancient name. But thanks to more experienced ‘Holics in this forum, I do know about the violent history of the “Dirty Leeds” and an old enmity with the Gunners which probably still flows in the waters of Aire and Thames.
But these are different times, Daniel Farke is as far from Don Revie as is Rhine-Westphalia from Yorkshire. He had spent a few up and down years with his previous club Norwich City before going back home, and then after being sacked by Mönchengladbach, he returned back to England in 2023 to join the then newly relegated Leeds United.
Following last year’s title winning run in the Championship, Leeds are back in the PL. And after a tumultuous start to the season, they are lately doing remarkably well and notwithstanding their current league position, they are one of the in-form teams. You don’t believe me? These are their last few league results: 1-1(A) v Everton, 1-0 (H) v Fulham, 3-4 (A) v Newcastle, 1-1 (H) v Man United, 0-0 (A) v Liverpool, 1-1 (A) v Sunderland, 4-1 (A) v Crystal Palace.
I haven’t seen them play since our home match against them earlier in the summer, when we had put in a cheerfully dominating performance (I remember the players smiling a lot) to continue our flawless start with a 5-0 victory. Timber and Gyökeres both scored a brace, Saka one, and the talented highschooler Max Dowman got his league debut. A 5-0 this weekend would do nicely, pleasantly surprised though I think we all Arsenal fans would be.
Leeds were away from the PL limelights for a considerable time, before the mad (arguably) genius (and ever quotable) Marcelo Bielsa had brought his feverish press-and-pass-and-move-and-press football to England and got Leeds promoted. English is not quite his language, so quoting some of his wisdoms/absurdities – for they tend to be indistinguishable – translated from his native tongue:
“A person is a madman until his ideas triumph.”
“I know that support is only given by triumph. Almost all coaches are losers, and that’s why we are so lonely.”
And, to sum his footballing philosophy up, “The only way I understand football is constant pressure, playing in the opponent’s half, and ball possession. I am obsessed with attacking. I watch videos to attack, not to defend. Do you know what my defensive job is? We all run.”
The laid back and not entirely unlikeable (especially given that unlikeable is the middle name of all opposition managers, at least to me) Farke may not be quite so dogmatically offensive-minded, but his teams tend to try to play more creative football than any attritional approach even against oppositions superior on paper. A deep and low block of defenders covering every passing route and marking every runner off the ball is not something Arsenal would likely face. Without implying any criticism of the team or the manager, but simply as an observation I think it is fair to say we don’t quite flourish against such attritional tactics. Even then, earlier in the first half of the season, we had typically managed to find some kind of tactical-technical solution to the most obdurate of opposition defenses. The solutions haven’t always been aesthetically the most elegant, but they have been mightily effective. Until very recently.
Our last few PL results: 2-3 (H) v Man United, 0-0 (A) v Nottingham Forest, 0-0 (H) v Liverpool, 3-2 (A) v Bournemouth, 4-1 (H) v Aston Villa, 2-1 (H) v Brighton.
That dip in PL form just around the start of the year – in the three cup competitions we played in that time we have maintained our winning run, though at times exhibiting a similar dip in performances or consistency – has manifested in both ends of the pitch: failing to create enough goalscoring opportunities, and giving away goals through defensive sloppiness.
While the drop in creativity is not entirely unexpected, it is the unlikely loss of defensive solidity that has equally hurt our point tallies. Fatigue – physical and psychological, especially after a strenuous winter schedule – is a likely cause for both. At least much more likelier in my opinion than any intrinsic glitches in our tactical approach.
But let us not overemphasize on the recent results and the dip in form, which is but inevitable. We have a (fingers crossed) mostly healthy squad, both deep and diverse, and with players of different profiles complementing each other, and all driven by uncompromising work ethic and desire for personal & collective excellence. A lot has already been written about the manager Mike Arteta and his team of superlative coaches, their attention to details, their unwavering commitment to prepare the teams for all tactical and technical tools, and bringing the team’s level back up-to where they were before the holidays, and then improving further from there would now be the focus.
Leeds had started the season with a structured 4-3-3 or 4-3-2-1 formation that was meant to rely on structured build-up through the middle. However, following the troubled start to the season, Farke has shifted to a more robust and yet attack-minded 3-5-2 or 3-4-2-1 formation which has offered greater positional stability and a more pronounced directness in attack. The positional stability also enabled Leeds to employ more aggressive pressing, likely an inheritance from the Bielsa days, and aggressive pressing done right is often the surest way to earn defensive stability. However, for their last away game they played in 3-5-2 formation, with the impressive Ethan Ampadu controlling the proceedings at the heart of the midfield. Calvert Lewin and Aaronson played the two strikers. Ao Tanaka came on later in the match as a substitute, we might see him start next to Ampadu.
This would be a test for Arsenal, and anything less than our best would very likely see us lose points away, especially given the recent form Leeds are enjoying. On the other hand, if we can regain our defensive solidity, confidence on the ball, the sharpness from the dead-ball situations, we should be able to assert our overall technical and physical superiority and dominate the game effectively enough for a difficult, but ultimately well-earned win.
The starting eleven is not as easily predictable as it was earlier in the season, thanks to a healthier state of affairs in the squad (fingers crossed, once again). Raya, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Zubimendi, Rice and Saka are the likeliest to return to the starting eleven. From the rest, Ødegaard too is likely to start. However, I wonder if Mikel will be tempted to start with either Kai or Merino on the right sided number eight role as a more physical presence in the midfield and in the opposition box arriving just behind the front three. Neither of them may be as press-resistant as the captain, but they are both capable of scoring goals and providing through balls. Martin is yet to hit his peak form this season, and it may not be a bad idea to allow him a breathing space to regain it.
I would like to see Nørgaard on the bench, who I think brings in stability, composure and PL know-how and can be used more and not have Zubimendi play every minute of every league match. We have missed Calafiori in the left back role, especially his contributions in the opposing half. He did look a bit rusty in the midweek CL match, and if he isn’t fully fit yet I would start with MLS. Hincapié is definitely a better defender, and not a slouch on the ball either, but he is yet to fully come to terms with the roaming left back role which is a key piece of our tactical flexibility.
My preferred starting line-up:
Raya
Timber – Saliba – Gabriel – Calafiori
Ødegaard – Zubimendi – Rice
Saka – Jesus – Trossard
Later in the second half, we may see the Kai-Gyökeres combination used again to replace Martin and Jesus. Yes, it was merely Kairat Almaty, but the way they were used in the midweek and how they played close to each other looked to be a very intentional approach, and something the manager feels offers us another variation in attack. Let us start strong, quieten the crowd, control the tempo and possession, be composed on the ball, win the 50-50s and we should create enough chances to score a couple of goals towards a 2-0 away win.
Come on Arsenal!
2-0 being a mighty fine prescription for what ails ye, I must thank you doctor for your highly professional services rendered. Just let’s hope the patient takes the medication as prescribed.
Masterful first paragraph, Dr. F. The rest of the preview is pretty good, too. My only question is whether your use of ‘arguably’ in connection with Marcelo Bielsa qualifies ‘mad’ or ‘genius’.
Cheers Doc. As Ned said, the first paragraph is very good, and it goes on from there…
Also cheers to TTG for the last report, and a shout out to Esso for an excellent post.
Today, let’s just win. A clean sheet and at least two goals would be good. As would a solid performance to calm a level of fan anxiety that seems well over the top to me. But three points are the number one priority.
I think Arteta’s “get on the boat” messaging is for the fans, but the players are nothing like as nervous. They know they are good. I expect them to show it today. My head is with the Doc on a 2-0 win. My heart says 4-1. But I’ll take any winning scoreline!
UTA!
Esso got me thinking.
I like Blogs, but sometimes you can see he tailors his messaging so as not to alienate readers/listeners who’s fandom consists primarily of whinging about everything the club does. He’d lose part of his audience if he didn’t do all his ‘I won’t tell anyone how to feel’ shtick. It’s part of being such a popular Arsenal voice (something he’s thoroughly earned) that he has to cater to a wide audience, and sometimes to the lowest common denominator.
He can underappreciate that by making rational arguments you can change how a person thinks, or evaluates a situation. This usually changes how people feel, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Explaining why you think it’s daft to throw your toys out of the pram doesn’t invalidate that feeling. It questions where it comes from. Which is a good and vital thing. It doesn’t void someone’s right to feel something. If people think that, they are losing the plot.
And, sacrilege though it may be to hear for newer generations, some feelings aren’t worth much more than telling you that you need to look at yourself in the mirror. If good things don’t bring you much joy and bad things leave you furious and despairing, then that might be an opportunity to investigate if things are alright with you. If you’re online bursting with vitriol because we only won 3-2 against Kairat Almaty then maybe something isn’t okay. And maybe that something isn’t Arsenal.
A level of nerves about winning big trophies is appropriate. We all want to and we aren’t there yet. A rational awareness of our flaws is sensible (no one can say we’ve scored as many or been as fluid in attack as we’d like). But some of the reaction people come out with is injustifiable, unhealthy and the very opposite of fun.
That last point is so important for me. I watch football for fun. I want to enjoy supporting Arsenal. I hate saying this and I wish it weren’t true, but… the thing that is sucking the most fun from the incredible journey our high-flying team are on right now is the relentless negativity and moaning of (some) other Arsenal fans. I’m used to meeja rubbish aimed at our club. But nowadays much of the worst stuff comes from people who claim to be on our side. Never mind ‘cannons out’. It seems to be an active choice to point cannons in. As a group, Arsenal fans are so negative that is has become a ‘thing’. Articles and think pieces are being written about it. I hate that we are characterised that way. The club and the team deserve better.
People who fuel all of this are not ‘supporters’ in any way I understand the word. And yet they expect not to be told anything negative about their own constant negativity, and have actually convinced themselves that the force of the criticism they aim at the club is a sign of what committed fans they are and how they can see the reality thay the rest of us refuse to see. It’s only reality for people who grew up in a fake news era and think narrative is fact and truth is whatever falsehood has the largest following.
Anyhoo, it’s for that reason that I’m keeping my media intake down to a bare minimum at the moment. I want to enjoy the football. I come in here, and check out a small number of other places where they make similar efforts to discuss Arsenal sensibly but as fans – as people who can see what’s good and what’s not so good, and who want to support the club.
This place and its many fine denizens always offer so much (not least when showcasing the value of discerning criticism!) I find myself especially grateful for the bar right now. I’m raising a glass to Dave, and there’s a drink behind the bar for you all.
Brilliant post Dino. Every word.
Words of appreciation fail me, GSD. An excellent contribution.
Good preciew Dr Faustus.
Thanks, Dr F – I’m glad the preview didn’t contain any annoying preambles about – oh, hang on ……
Well said, GSD !
I’m guessing – but don’t know – that the online vitriol is coming from the younger elements of the fan base. They are more likely to be taking to (anti)social media. They also would have spent a larger proportion of their Arsenal “supporting” lives spoilt on the incredible eight years of success under the wonderful Arsene Wenger. They even turned on him when the annual trophy haul had to give way to financing an honestly bought new stadium. (Oil state run clubs, please note)
We all know what state the club had gotten into by the time Mikel Arteta took over. Those of us who supported the club through the 70s and parts of the 80s and 90s will regard what Arteta has achieved as almost miraculous. A club transformed from top to bottom with playing and behavioural standards that have inspired the owners to properly back the club.
We are now annual contenders for the two biggest trophies in club football that are regularly won by financial cheats. We are currently regarded by almost everyone in football – except some of our “own” as the strongest team and squad in European and even world club football. We’ve had an injury plagued season which has coincided with trying to integrate msny new players into the team / squad. We have had a recent dip in form but still sit at the very top of the Premier League and the Champions League.
Will we win either of them ? Who knows ? Will it be disappointing if we don’t ? Yes, deeply – for us and the players. Will it affect the way I feel about the club ? Not for one second.
Thanks Doc
Lots of good thoughts to ponder. I’m thinking 2-1
GSD@4 – Interesting. I stopped reading Arseblog years ago when the need to satisfy sponsors and a broader audience changed the tone and style of the place. No longer irreverent and therefore less relevant. IMO of course.
UTA
Some of the nervous anticipation I’m experiencing has been diminished by you positivity there, Dr F. I’d be delighted with a 2-0 away win. Irrespective of the actual scoreline, my weekend will reach a state of happy tranquility if we leave Elland Road having scored one more goal than our opponents.
I’d start Kai Havertz in the right eight position with Victor ahead of him hoping for a reprise of the approach that worked well on Wednesday night and should have produced more goals. Jesus and Merino represent better finishers for this game for me. Mikel may well see things differently.
Enjoy, Holics. I shan’t be viewing or listening. My local egg chasers kick off at 3 pm and are an excellent watch this season. It will be difficult to resist the occasional peek for the scoreline at Leeds however.
Nice preview, Dr F after the early feint towards Pseud’s Corner. We can confidently expect Leeds to provide stern opposition, roared on by a feral crowd and we will have to be at our best to take the three points required to steady the ship. Hopefully we will channel the swift, vertical approach from the first half on Wednesday rather than the far too familiar l’arc d’ennui. Rapid ball movement from midfield to the forwards strikes me as the key ingredient. A 2-0 win would be delightful.
Thanks Dr F for another fine discourse – not many football blogs give a passing reference to ancient civilisation, maybe visiting Leeds led to this thought process.
“Dirty” Leeds gained that well deserved tag from their over the top physical game in the 60s & 70s and brings back considerable angst after all the intervening time to those of us of a certain vintage had to endure. A morale boosting victory today will always give that extra slice of satisfaction.
The team will be up against one of the most raucous crowds in the UK and will need to be fully switched on for the whole match to repel every dynamic challenge thrown at us. If they achieve this then the 2-0 scoreline would be a mighty fine result.
COYRRR
Cheers Doc!
GSD genuinely awesome post mate and I don’t say that lightly
Thanks Dr F, your usual excellent preview and some fine posts too.
Havertz back in the starting XI and Ode the one to drop out.
I wonder how we will line up in the middle – I guess Kai as our
attacking midfielder
Thanks everyone for the kind words!
Ned@2: the arguably qualifier I meant for the genius tag, but you are right that it can equally apply to the ‘mad’ bit. But then as Pascal said, main is so essentially … etc. etc. 🙂
Excellent post GSD! Yes, if someone constantly nurtures and engages in all types of negative emotions, especially about not that consequential in the scheme of things, then a bit of self-awareness and self-introspection are much more the effective ways to grow out of that malaise than waiting for the outside world to change to your fantasy. Another way to feel better is to just look out of the window and see the world around you, and feel compassion for so many others who are suffering through terrible experiences for no fault of theirs. Right there in Europe millions of people are living through lack of electricity and heating in ancient cities that they had lovingly and painstakingly modernized over the years after they were finally free from the clutches of a brutal colonizer. Supporting Arsenal is a pleasure.
Best wishes to those traveling to Leeds.
Come on Arsenal!
Mikel M, MLS and Norgaard can’t even get a place on the bench, tough calls.
Go win, Gunners:
Dino@4: Well said. If ever there was a time to lean into joy, it is this.
Liking the starting XI
Something different for fucking sure!
UP THE ARSE!
Havertz and Gyokeres start:
Raya
Timber Saliba Gabriel Hincapié
Havertz Zubimendi Rice
Saka Gyökeres Trossard
Mikel has solved the Ode-Eze conundrum by starting them both – on the bench! Let’s see of Kai & Vik can click.
Maybe this XI is the one that will get us headed towards glory?
Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Rice, Zubimendi, Havertz, Saka, Trossard, Gyokeres
Plenty of firepower among the subs: Kepa, Mosquera, White, Odegaard, Jesus, Eze, Martinelli, Madueke, Calafiori
Dr F: Leeds people are different. A study was conducted at Oxford University ten years ago on the UK population’s genetic makeup. It identified a handful of genetic clusters in England, in places where Celtic tribes survived more or less intact both the Roman occupation and, at least for a couple of centuries, the invasion/arrival (pick your historical perspective) of the Angles, Saxons, Jutes and Danes. One of those genetic clusters was where modern-day Leeds lies, in what would have been the Brythonic polity (some say kingdom, but that assumes a political structure of states that probably did not exist) of Elmet. The Anglican kingdom of Northumbria eventually subsumed it in the seventh century. The name Lātēnses you reference is more likely to be a combination of the Common Brythonic, Lāt, and the Latin suffix, ēnses (people of), rather than purely Brythonic. And to slip into social media rant mode (GSD, look away now), Bede was an Anglican propagandist.
Thanks for your balanced preview Dr F and particular thanks to GSD and Trev for enormous good sense very much in the spirit of the blog and summoning up the right way to follow our great club .
I’m very invested in this season and rather nervous about wheels falling off but I also have faith in the wuss as city of this squad and Mikel’s leadership abilities and coaching nous . A draw at Leeds won’t be a poor result but will seem like it . I hope we can start to build momentum again with a narrow win
Saka injured in warm-up . Madueke in
Interesting team selection that will be a good test of whether the Havertz/Gyökeres combination is the key to unlocking goalscoring.
To OM’s point, if Merino, MLS and Nørgaard can’t make the bench, that is truly depth in depth.
TTG@22: What do our players get put through in the warm-up? Saka is, what, the second or third player to get crocked this way?
That is fairly shambolic. A warm up is exactly that.
Cone on you Gunners!
2-0 half time, great header from Zubi and a team effort Leeds own goal.
Nice to see Madueke getting some end product, pleased for him.
I was amazed when Calvert-Lewis’s wasn’t even booked for a bad foul
on Gabriel but maybe that was just me.
Straight red required for DCL challenge on Gabriel, OM. DCL and Stuart Attwell going out for a few pints after the game I suspect.
Madueke great half.
Bik Vik holds his ground and steers in Martinelli’s great cross for 3-0. Great response from the Arsenal 👍🏼
Soaked up a bit of Leeds pressure quite well and
then Viktor put the game to bed with a good centre-forward’s
goal.
Yesss, yesss and yesss….
I was fairly anxious before the game. Luckily the player don’t.
COYG
Great cross from Martinelli on the right.
Proving we can do it on a rainy afternoon in Leeds
Went to an in-form Leeds and stuffed them 4-0
Great win, clean sheet, goals for our CFs, happy day
If you don’t take joy from that, I don’t know where you will.
The seasonal double over Leeds to the tune of 9-0 😂😂
Noticeable effort to put in early crosses today, before defences could get set. Madueke looked a lot more dangerous as a result. His corner taking was near-Saka quality, too. Gyökeres’s goal also came from an early Martinelli cross.
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=VfVjdv6ttE8&si=T3Jj4lzMFNW1dg5x
Happy Feelings, ‘Holics. Get in!
MCMBD
A very good win at a difficult venue and an important result too given our recent form. Hope those injuries are minor and we have a proper XI for Tuesday.
Gunners supercharged at Leeds. Ned and the monks on steroids @20.
Ned @24 – the warm up put Calafiori out of action for 9 games if memory serves ….?🤞🏻
I’m pleased but not surprised about that. We are a really good side. Leeds didn’t get near our goal and we stuck four past them that could have been more. Lovely stuff. Fourteen left.
UTA
Well that was a lot of fun!
Just a niggle for Saka according to MA, good news if it turns out correct.
Nice to have almost a full squad to choose from for the midweek game.
Five away wins in January is only the second time we’ve done that apparently,
though I don’t suppose we had 5 away games in a month that often in olden
times.
A nod to Hincapie as well, he had a very solid game I thought.
Obviously things changed when Mr Chaos came on for a great
cameo turn but Calafiori is not the norm and it was a different
game at 3-0 up. Prior to that our defence had looked back to its
smothering best I thought – Leeds pushed us back for a spell
just after half-time and got precisely nothing.
I have no expectation of the spuddettes doing anything
useful against Cheaty but hopefully Agent Frank has got
his best thinking cap on, not that one with the D on it.
Also while I’m horseshoeing my way to the half ton,
I did idly wonder whether any of the more pitiful
denizens of the marsh wanted their team to lose again,
perhaps they’ll be booed off for winning this time
TTG,
@21 I have trying to see what you meant before spillchucker gave us
“the wuss as city of this squad” in your post. Could it be the width and quality?
Will it be Gabi or Vik for the 50?
Sneaks in on the blind side…
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>