Mighty Leeds Weblog

By Lee Sobot Daniel Farke was speaking after Leeds United’s defeat at Arsenal in the Premier League Daniel Farke held his hands up with an honest Leeds United admission in his assessment of his side's 5-0 defeat at Arsenal as he also provided a star man injury update. Leeds held firm for the first half an hour against Mikel Arteta's Gunners but were eventually left licking their wounds from a 5-0 defeat. Speaking post match, Farke said he was not sure if a 5-0 scoreline was a fair reflection of the game but admitted Leeds would have to take defeat to a better Arsenal side on the chin as he also provided an Ao Tanaka injury update. Tanaka was taken off early in the second half. "I think it's fair to say that Arsenal deserved to win this game today," said Farke. "They were the better side, they deserved also to win this game with a good proper goal difference. "I'm not sure if it was actually a 5-0 because five shots on target and they scor...

by Kwadwo Hemeng Leeds United were humbled after a thrashing away to Arsenal at the Emirates. The feeling was in direct contrast to their win against Everton on Monday night. Daniel Farke was right when he said his team would not change their style. Leeds persisted on playing out from the back and keeping possession, even if it meant making some errors. Goalkeeper Lucas Perri was caught out a few times but luckily it did not lead to goal. But the Brazilian’s goalkeeping raised a lot of eye brows. Former Arsenal man Theo Walcott said the Leeds stopper could have done better on some of the goals: “There is question marks around the Leeds goalkeeper Perri. It goes over his shoulder and I think he should perhaps do better. Maybe he is not expecting the shot to come at him so fast but I think he should have done better.” The Whites lost 5-0 to Arsenal and were completely outplayed on the night. When Daniel Farke was asked about his thoughts on the game, he admitted that the Gunners ...

Luke Phelps Leeds United were dealt a massive reality check on Saturday afternoon, losing 5-0 away at Arsenal. After starting the season so well, with a 1-0 win over Everton in the Premier League, Leeds United massively let themselves down in a 5-0 defeat at Arsenal. Viktor Gyokeres scored twice, and so too did Jurrien Timber in a thumping win for the Gunners. But for Daniel Farke’s side, it was a worrying reminder of how tough this season is going to be. Here are three brutal lessons Farke learned on Saturday… Lucas Perri looked shaky in goal for Leeds United Lucas Perri is the new number one for Leeds, but in the game on Saturday, Leeds United fans were very unimpressed with Perri, with many even saying that they prefer Illan Meslier to come back despite his disastrous 2024-25 season. Perri simply looked unassured in goal. There were times when he looked like a deer in the headlights against the likes of Gyokeres and Bukayo Saka who was also on the score sheet, and it w...

Arsenal 5-0 Leeds: Viktor Gyokeres and Jurrien Timber bagged braces while 15-year-old Max Dowman made a memorable Premier League debut Will Castle The future looks bright at Arsenal. Hoping for it to be “fourth time’s a charm” in their pursuit of Premier League glory, a flawless start to the new season feels imperative. It meant a home victory over newly-promoted Leeds United, in itself, was not so much a headline as it was an expectation. Instead, the stories of the day centred around a select few individuals, those that spark visions of rediscovered success. Arsenal fans began the afternoon on tenterhooks, waiting for the imminent confirmation of new arrival Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace. They wouldn’t have to wait long. The Gunners’ new No 10 was unveiled to the Emirates faithful prior to kick-off to raucous reaction, returning to club he grew up playing for and supporting. To call this a homecoming, as was proclaimed over the PA, might be inaccurate - Eze was of course dum...

Whites fall to defeat. Leeds United fell to a first defeat of the Premier League campaign after being beaten by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Daniel Farke made one enforced change to the starting lineup that had beaten Everton in the season opener, bringing in Ilia Gruev for the injured Ethan Ampadu. New signing Noah Okafor was named amongst the substitutes. The hosts began the encounter enjoying sustained spells of possession as the Whites’ backline was forced to defend early on. Gunners’ skipper Martin Ødegaard tried his luck, dragging a low strike wide of the upright. Keen to use pace on the break, a cross-field pass from Anton Stach then found the run of Daniel James down the right flank. Controlling the ball well, the Wales international cut inside before seeing a left-footed effort blocked by Gabriel Magalhães. Pressure from Mikel Arteta’s men saw a chance present itself to summer signing Viktor Gyökeres though, on the turn, the former Sporting striker was unable to ...

By Lee Sobot Leeds United take in their second game of the Premier League season against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. A big name Leeds United first team attacker has reportedly not travelled with the squad for Saturday evening’s Premier League clash against Arsenal at the Emirates. Belgian winger Largie Ramazani joined Leeds from Almeria last August for around £10m and the attacker made 29 Championship appearances from which he scored six goals last term to help Daniel Farke’s Whites to promotion as champions. Attacker not thought to have travelled Leeds, though, have recently added more options to their attacking ranks including new £18m winger Noah Okafor and the YEP’s chief football writer Graham Smyth has reported that Ramazani has not travelled with the squad for Saturday’s 5.30pm kick-off against the Gunners at the Emirates. It is not known if Ramazani has an injury but the 24-year-old made the bench for Monday night’s Premier League opener at home to Everton for ...

Leeds United will be required to divert from their preferred methodology more greatly against one of the title challengers Leeds United face their first big-hitter of the season in Arsenal for their first away game and Daniel Farke’s tactical flexibility will be tested. The manager has outlined how he will need to adapt his approach when facing one of the top Premier League teams and Saturday's test will require him to do this. Farke's newly-preferred 4-3-3 formation will likely be in operation but the Whites will need to be more reserved than they were at home to Everton. In fact, an adjusted approach might need to be taken in most away games given United will be the underdogs, albeit Farke has outlined that he will still try to retain last season’s policy of being positive. However, Leeds have meanwhile suffered a significant blow to preparations. Ampadu absence Ethan Ampadu was arguably the man of the match against Everton but a clattering tackle left him writhing ...

By Stuart Rayner Daniel Farke would love to one day be the Leeds United manager who spent a billion pounds on transfers, even if he jokes he might be well into his 60s by then. That Mikel Arteta has done so shows the scale of the task facing his team on Saturday. You could argue Leeds caught Everton at a good time on Monday. Jack Grealish was not yet fully up to speed and David Moyes' recruitment was so far behind he had to make do and mend with midfielder James Garner at left-back. The home win was more dominant than the 1-0 scoreline suggested. Arsenal were not at their best either on day one, their 1-0 win at Manchester United also not telling the story of a match the Red Devils more than played their part in. But signing Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace just as neighbours Tottenham Hotspur thought he was theirs was yet another morale boost ahead of their first home game of the season. After too long as second best – even to sides as outstanding as Manchester City and ...

'I woke up, saw the profit and loss sheet, saw how much it was losing and thought ‘heck, what have I done?!' The owner of a famous Leeds United pub was “drunk” when he bought it in a “heart-ruling-head” spur-of-the-moment decision. Leeds fan Jamie Lawson, 53, admitted he’d had “quite a few beers” when he acquired The Old Peacock which is situated across the road from the club’s Elland Road Stadium. The famous pub dates back to 1826, almost a hundred years before the club was established in 1919. The pub’s legacy is so entwined with Leeds United’s history that it even had a hand in the club’s formation. The brewers who owned the pub had developed the once barren land across the road into a sports field and called it the Old Peacock Ground. It eventually became Elland Road Stadium. Jamie’s first match at Elland Road would have been when he was around six years old and attacking midfielder Tony Currie was a childhood hero of his at the time. He went along with his dad Bob,...

Who put the ball in the Arsenal net? Written by: Chris McMenamy Leeds United are back in the Premier League and if there’s one thing we can bring then it’s pure unadulterated spite. Just look at the ‘controversial penalty’ awarded to the Peacocks on Monday night and the bitter reaction to it. Having dealt with the miserable half of Merseyside, we move on to alleged title contenders Arsenal. What’s their deal? Why are they so annoying? Do we have any history? We do, aye. You can go back as far as Arsenal legend Herbert Chapman’s days managing the old Leeds City in the 1910s to trace the often overlooked history of Leeds and Arsenal, but we’ll be a bit more basic and say: Clarke, one-nil! Those were the iconic words of commentator David Coleman as Allan Clarke scored the only goal when Leeds beat Arsenal in the 1972 FA Cup final. It was the centenary cup final and meant to be a celebration of the corinthian spirit of football played in front of Queen Elizabeth. Instead, it wa...

By Mark Carruthers Leeds United continued to strengthen their squad with the signing of AC Milan forward Noah Okafor. Leeds United have taken their summer transfer spending close to £100 million after completing the signing of AC Milan star Noah Okafor on Thursday. Since securing promotion into the Premier League via their dramatic Championship title win, the Elland Road hierarchy have backed manager Daniel Farke with the Switzerland international becoming the ninth new addition to the Whites squad since the end of last season. A new goalkeeper was brought in after a deal was agreed for Lyon stopper Lucas Perri and defensive additions arrived in the form of Jaka Bijol, Gabriel Gudmundsson and Sebastiaan Bornauw. The midfield was bolstered by the signings of Sean Longstaff and Anton Stach and strikers Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha arrived on free transfers, with the latter making an immediate impact by scoring the only goal in Monday’s home win against Everton. After ...

Farke’s side were the top-ranked team for goals scored (95), touches in the opposition box, possession and high turnovers en route to the title. Mark Walker Daniel Farke vowed Leeds “won’t sell our DNA” at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday against Premier League title challengers Arsenal. The Gunners are huge favourites to notch their second win of the season in their opening home game after grinding out a 1-0 triumph last week at Old Trafford, while Leeds marked their top-flight return with victory on Monday over Everton. Farke’s side were the top-ranked team for goals scored (95), touches in the opposition box, possession and high turnovers en route to the Sky Bet Championship title last season. And despite the gulf between the Premier League and the second tier, the German has been tweaking, rather than ripping up, his blueprint. Farke said: “We won’t sell our DNA in the Premier League this season and park the bus. “If you just try to defend for 96 minutes or whatever y...

Kris Smith Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier clearly has no future at Elland Road after losing his spot in the squad following the arrival of Lucas Perri, and it leaves him sure to pursue an exit in the coming days. Lucas Perri has already got off the mark with a clean sheet in Leeds United colours after a crucial 1-0 home win against Everton, commanding his area fairly well and showing off his astonishing long throw for the first time. Watching on was Illan Meslier, not in the matchday squad with Karl Darlow on the bench for Daniel Farke, further proof that the writing is on the wall for the 25-year-old Frenchman. Leeds United ‘offer’ Illan Meslier to Cesc Fabregas’ Como for €5million Meslier comes into this season with his stock at Elland Road as low as it’s ever been after being axed from the lineup back in April with just seven games to play in the Championship promotion race. His contract has entered its final year, and now Italian outlet Il Giorno report that Mesl...

Up close and personal Written by: Chris McMenamy Leeds United’s ninth signing of the summer comes ten days ahead of the transfer window closing. Let’s say hello (again) to Noah Okafor and work out who exactly is the man from Milan. Career so far Okafor was born in Switzerland and joined his local top flight club FC Basel’s youth team aged nine, where I can say with a degree of certainty that he never played against Isaac Schmidt despite my extensive search of Transfermarkt. Okafor made his full debut for FC Basel’s first team in July 2018 and scored in a 1-1 draw with Neuchatel Xamax. His first season in professional football ended with Basel winning the Swiss Cup. Okafor scored the opener in the semi-final and played the full ninety minutes in the final. He joined Red Bull Salzburg in January 2020, halfway through his second season at Basel, presumably motivated by the opportunity to work with their coach Jesse Marsch. Okafor was signed as part of a crop aimed at replacing...

By Lee Sobot Leeds United team news for Saturday evening’s second game of the new Premier League season at Arsenal. Whites boss Daniel Farke has provided his Leeds United team news for Saturday evening’s Premier League clash at Arsenal with a big blow but new faces chance. Club captain Ethan Ampadu excelled in Monday night’s 1-0 win at home to Everton but looked set to be forced off injured after a strong challenge from Everton's Tim Iroegbunam 11 minutes into the second half. The skipper stayed down and appeared both in pain and upset as he received treatment only to eventually continue and play on for another 22 minutes before being brought off 12 minutes from time. Speaking post match, Farke said Leeds were hopeful that the extent of the damage would just be bad bruising but the Whites boss admitted the midfielder's condition would have to be checked ahead of Saturday evening’s trip to the Emirates. Speaking at Thursday’s pre-match press conference, though, Farke...

Whites bring in exciting international forward. Leeds United are delighted to announce the signing of Noah Okafor on a four-year contract, subject to a work permit and international clearance. The 25-year-old arrives at Elland Road on a permanent deal from Italian giants AC Milan and can operate across the forward areas on either wing, or as a central striker when required to do so. Beginning his career in Switzerland with FC Basel, Okafor’s trickery, pace and eye for goal meant he was named the Swiss Super League Young player of the Year, which then earned a move to Red Bull Salzburg. His stay with the Austrian outfit saw the attacker play over 100 times across all competitions, registering 57 goal involvements in those games. Four successive league titles, as well as three Austrian Cups were a reward for his efforts within the team. Okafor impressed domestically for his side and also across European competition. He played 16 times in the UEFA Champions League for Die Roten ...

God I've missed this Written by: Rob Conlon It could have been a dangerous long pass behind Leeds’ defence, but Joe Rodon read the flight of the ball perfectly, accelerated ahead of Everton striker Beto to get there first, nodded it back to his goalkeeper Lucas Perri, and set off sprinting back into position shouting for the ball again. Unlike last season, Rodon didn’t have to wait before the ball was rolling into his path and he could set off again as Leeds drove forward. Shortly afterwards, it went out for a throw-in in Leeds’ half. Rodon didn’t have the patience to wait for Jayden Bogle to get back, once again sprinting over to take the throw-in to Perri so Leeds could keep moving. United weren’t in the mood for hanging around. There was a game to be won and everyone inside Elland Road could smell blood. God I’ve missed this! Elland Road under the lights is a powerful beast. It wasn’t always pretty, but Leeds’ eagerness to snap into tackles and keep Everton penned into the...

By Kyle Newbould The Leeds United manager was spotted in deep conversation with his midfielder during Monday's full-time celebrations. Daniel Farke’s ‘cool in the head and fire in the heart’ mantra was at the heart of a post-Everton debrief with Ao Tanaka on Monday night. Leeds kicked off their 2025/26 Premier League campaign with a massive three points against Everton, with Lukas Nmecha’s 84th-minute penalty just rewards for an outstanding performance. Farke’s men harnessed the energy from a fervent Elland Road right from kick-off and that energy carried them through 90 minutes and another seven added on. Tanaka in particular appeared to feed off the electricity, covering huge amounts of ground and adding a physical bite to his obvious technical quality right up until a 94th minute substitution. Just seconds before that change, the Japan international and Anton Stach burst forward to a rapturous roar from supporters but Farke suggested he’d have preferred a calmer approach...

Noah Okafor could join free signings Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha at the club as Farke strengthens his forward line Richard Jolly Leeds are advancing in talks with AC Milan for Noah Okafor as Daniel Farke looks to strengthen his forward line. The promoted club have made eight summer signings but want to add to their attack and are progressing in their attempts to sign the Switzerland winger. Okafor, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Napoli, could join the exodus from AC Milan after Tijjani Reijnders, Theo Hernandez and Malick Thiaw were sold. Leeds have spent more than £70m this summer but the only attackers they have recruited, Lukas Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, came on free transfers. Nmecha scored the winner in their Premier League opener against Everton on Monday and afterwards Farke underlined his priorities in the transfer market. “Especially in the offence it would be good to have a few more options available,” he said. “With Domini...

By AADAM PATEL Daniel Farke called on the Leeds fans to make Elland Road a fortress but he knew that would only be possible if his side started positively. And they delivered. Under the lights, Leeds raced out of the blocks and set the tempo doing everything but score in the first half. ‘Great credit to Leeds. They were incredibly intense, especially in the first 30 minutes,’ said David Moyes, who admitted his opponents were the better side. Both Jayden Bogle and Gabriel Gudmundsson were relentless down the flanks while the Leeds midfield won the battle. The only thing Farke’s side lacked was a killer edge in the final third. ‘When you’re that dominant, you need players with that firepower at the end,’ he admitted. It took a moment of fortune to get the penalty in the second half but it was no less than they deserved. At Norwich, Farke won only six of his 49 Premier League games but if this performance was anything to go by then he will have a much better record at Leeds. ...

Leeds close in on £13.5m swoop for AC Milan star - as Daniel Farke lauds his side's 'magic' Premier League return with 'outstanding' victory over Everton By SIMON JONES and AADAM PATEL, SPORTS REPORTER Leeds United are close to agreement on a deal for AC Milan winger Noah Okafor after triumphing 1-0 over Everton on their return to the Premier League on Monday night. The Switzerland international is open to the move and has discussed a potential four year deal. Leeds are understood to be offering around £13.5million for the 25-year old who has drawn attention from the likes of Arsenal and Everton. Okafor was signed by Milan from RB Salzburg and has suffered some niggling injuries over the past three seasons. He spent part of last season on loan with title-winning Napoli but only managed five appearances. He played the full 90 minutes when Leeds faced AC Milan in Dublin in pre-season. Leeds have been willing to gamble on some of their acquisitions this s...