Mikel Arteta offers thoughts on Arsenal’s narrow FA Cup victory over Leeds United

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has indicated he knew how hard last night’s match against Leeds United in the FA Cup third round would be.

In the Daily Telegraph, Arteta is quoted saying he tried to warn his players about how tough the game would be, but his players didn’t heed his words in the first half of the 1-0 win at the Emirates Stadium.

He said: “I tried to convince [my players] before the game of what to expect of that team [Leeds]. They battered every team in the Championship, every three days. The way they play makes it really difficult and uncomfortable.

“When I see what I don’t want to see – and I’m not talking about technically and tactically – what I expect from them [his players] and the standards that we wanted to set in certain areas, I cannot be happy and I have to let them know.”

TBR’s View – Leeds show they can mix it with the best but old problems persist

The very obvious plus side for Leeds last night is that for 45 minutes last night they absolutely battered one of the biggest clubs in the country.

But their same old problems in terms of being clinical in front of goal reared their head and they tired badly in the second half.

Performances like the first half last night should blow the Championship away if they can be translated into goals and Arteta’s admiration is fully justified.