Can Leeds United achieve this feat?- Leeds tips to break EPL 2003 record but what they need to do has been revealed

Leeds United’s 5-0 Arsenal defeat taught them about importance of details, says Daniel Farke

Daniel Farke says Leeds United’s chastening 5-0 defeat at Arsenal in August taught them a lesson about the importance of details in the Premier League.

August’s match was the Whites’ first Premier League away game since May 2023 and like that one at West Ham United, it was a painful experience.

Leeds lost 5-0 to a dominant Gunners side who eased up after scoring four goals in the first 56 minutes and handed a debut to 16-year-old substitute Max Dowman.

But a 3-0 defeat at Brighton and Hove Albion in November is the closest they have come to such a heavy defeat since. Their other seven reverses have been by one- or two-goal margins, some only decided in stoppage-time.

On top of that, Leeds have beaten Chelsea, drawn twice with Liverpool, once with Newcastle United and gave Manchester City a real scare in a 3-2 defeat.

It underscores the real progress made by a Leeds side who won promotion to the Premier League in the summer on the back of seeing the last six such sides be relegated at the first attempt.

“In your first away game (back in the Premier League) you’re always perhaps even a bit nervous or not sure what to expect because we’ve waited quite a long time for such a situation,” reflected Farke.

“It was also a difficult game because it was Arsenal’s first home game (of the season), everyone there, the Emirates was in an unbelievable mood. Before the game, they presented a £70m signing (Eberechi Eze), the whole stadium was on it.

With their first shot on target, more or less, they scored a goal (through Jurrien Timber). It was unbelievably effective.

“Even there, I didn’t think that the players on the pitch had the feeling we were cut into pieces and played out of the park.

“We didn’t create too many chances, but it was not that we allowed one chance after another for Arsenal (who scored all five of their shots on goal).”

Arsenal have set the standards in England and in Europe this season not by blowing teams away with beautiful expansive football but with their impressive effectiveness, especially at set pieces. Timber’s opening goal in August came from a corner.

And Arsenal’s success from restarts has had a big influence across the division, with teams putting much more emphasis on corners and long throw-ins for their goals.

“What we took out of this game is that we never can underestimate a small situation,” said Farke. “Each of the details can be decisive – for example, don’t give a unnecessary throw-in or corner kick away.

“We realised we have to be even a bit more on it in the details in each split second against the top sides, to be aware.

“This is perhaps what we could take out of this game.”

Now Arsenal’s reliance on set pieces is being held against them after two points from their last three league games. The pressure will all be on them in the three o’clock kick-off against a side who have shown they can take points off the top teams, especially at Elland Road.

Wisely, though, Farke refused to talk up their wobble.

“Wobble is relative,” he cautioned.

“I’ve just checked their last results. They’ve lost one game, a bit unlucky against Man United 2-3.

“Before I just saw win, win, win, win, win, draw, win, win, win. At Champions League level I just saw wins. Even as league leaders, sometimes you have a game with a late goal, sometimes you can lose unluckily.

“I would have preferred that it (defeat) wouldn’t have happened in the last (league) game, because normally, when you’re on such a level, you’re even more switched on in the next game.

I think it doesn’t make our task any easier, if I’m honest.”

There is a possibility Gabriel Gudmundsson could return quicker than expected from an adductor injury, but Jaka Bijol and Lukas Nmecha are missing with hamstring strains.