Mikel Arteta comments on Leeds following Arsenal’s Europa League quarter-final triumph

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has drawn a comparison between his side’s Europa League quarter-final opponents and Leeds United, with their never-give-up attitude.

Last week, Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites recorded a superb 2-1 win at Premier League leaders Manchester City, despite being a man down for half the game.

On Thursday, meanwhile, Arsenal went into their second-leg encounter at Slavia Prague with the aggregate scoreline at 1-1, the Czech side having picked up an away goal in the first leg.

Their goal came in injury time, not long after the Gunners had taken the lead.

In the end, the Gunners made light work of Slavia, running out 4-0 winners on the night for a 5-1 aggregate victory.

After the game, Arteta claimed that the Czech league leaders are similar to Leeds in how they keep fighting right to the end and don’t stop believing.

“We didn’t (switch off) and we cannot do it because this team (Slavia) doesn’t allow you to do that,” he told the Arsenal media team.

“It’s very similar to Leeds and we know their spirit from when we played them at home and we did some really good things.

“They keep alive and they keep believing and they’re a team that fights until the end.”

Arsenal ran out 4-2 winners over the Whites at the Emirates in February, while their Elland Road clash, back in November last year, finished as a goalless draw.

Up next for the Gunners is Sunday’s home game with Fulham, while Leeds host Liverpool at Elland Road on Monday night.