Ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Leeds, the Gunners’, manager, Mikel Arteta says he has huge respect for his Argentine counterpart, adds the club is in for an “intense” clash at Elland Road on Sunday.
The Spanish coach will come up against Marcelo Bielsa for the first time in the league at Elland Road on Sunday afternoon – having already faced him in the FA Cup in what was just his fourth game in charge of the Gunners – with the relative newcomer to the management game pitting his wits against a man with 30 years-worth of experience.
Arteta never crossed paths with Bielsa in his playing career, but through conversations with his former Manchester City mentor Pep Guardiola and former team-mate Mauricio Pochettino, he knows all about the aura surrounding the Argentine.
Having followed Marcelo Bielsa closely for many years, Mikel Arteta believes he knows exactly what to expect from Leeds United and how they can attack.
“They’re a very difficult opponent,” Arteta said. “I know Marcelo really well because I have followed him over the years.
“I had the possibility to work with players who have been involved with him for years, and he is a manager I have always admired because what he transmits to his players and the way he manages to get his teams playing is very special.
“They’re going to go 100mph for every ball, the way they press you, the way they challenge you, the way they go about the game for 96 minutes. They will make it a really difficult and really intense game.”
