Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has issued his verdict on Leeds United’s start under Javi Gracia. The Gunners will host the Whites at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Elland Road chiefs appointed Gracia as the latest manager of Leeds in February to replace Jesse Marsch in their dugout. The Whites gave the Spaniard a flexible contract in the hope he can secure their Premier League survival. They travel to north London 14th in the table.
Gracia took charge with Leeds in 19th place and just a point above the bottom of the table. They are now three points clear of Southampton in 20th place and have a game in hand on the Saints. But West Ham United in 18th are two points behind and have a match in hand.
Arsenal and Leeds meet in a clash of two of the Premier League’s in-form sides
Leeds have fared well since naming Gracia as their latest manager ahead of visiting Arsenal and Ramsdale. Only the Gunners (15), Aston Villa (10) and Manchester City (9) have taken more points than the Whites (7) since the Spaniard arrived at Elland Road on February 21.
Although Arsenal have played five fixtures to Leeds’ four since Gracia replaced Marsch and Manchester City have played three. The Whites have beaten Southampton 1-0 and Wolves 4-2 on either side of a 1-0 defeat at Chelsea and drawing 2-2 with Brighton & Hove Albion.
Aaron Ramsdale issues his verdict on Javi Gracia’s approach at Elland Road
Arsenal beat Leeds 1-0 when Ramsdale’s side visited Elland Road back in October. Bukayo Saka penned the only goal of the game as the Gunners extended their run to five-straight wins over the Whites. Leeds last beat Arsenal back in May 2003 with a 3-2 win at Highbury.
Yet despite Arsenal going 13 games unbeaten against Leeds, Ramsdale feels Gracia’s side will pose a challenge this Saturday. But the 24-year-old also does not feel the Spaniard has made wholesale changes to how the Whites tackle their fixtures from Marsch’s approach.
“We’re expecting a tough game,” Ramsdale has noted, via quotes by the Evening Standard. “Obviously, they’ve had a change of manager. But I feel like the way they have approached most [of their] recent games is still very similar.
“They have the same sort of style – the way they want to dominate the team by out-running them and then letting their quality show after.
“It will be another tough test and, hopefully, it’s one we can come through like we have done at the Emirates more times than not this season.”
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