Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has paid a compliment to Leeds United after his side’s success in the Europa League last night, on the Gunners’ official website.
Arsenal beat Slavia Prague yesterday to progress to the final of European competition.
The Gunners made the job look easy, but Arteta was quick to insist that his side’s task was not – and he drew a comparison between Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds side and Slavia Prague.
“We didn’t [switch off] and we cannot do it because this team doesn’t allow you to do that. 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,” he said.
“They keep alive and they keep believing and they’re a team that fights until the end.”
Leeds went 4-0 down against Arsenal in February, but Bielsa’s side gave the North London outfit a scare, as they pulled two goals back to set up a nervy finish at the Emirates Stadium.
There was no such drama last night, as Arsenal cruised to success, in a showing which suggested they may well have taken a lesson from their game against Leeds.
Leeds’ never say die attitude was never clearer than last weekend, when they went down to 10 men against Manchester City.
Many sides may have given up after being handed a numerical disadvantage at the Etihad Stadium, but Leeds never stopped believing and they somehow picked up a 2-1 victory, thanks to a last minute winner from Stuart Dallas.
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