Marcelo Bielsa, the Leeds United head coach, has described Arsenal as one of the "best teams" in the Premier League ahead of Sunday's meeting between the two clubs at Elland Road.
The two sides will go head-to-head in West Yorkshire on Sunday afternoon in their first league meeting for more than 16 years, with both clubs determined to get back on track after heavy defeats prior to the international break.
Following their promotion from the Championship last season, Leeds, who have not beaten Arsenal since May 2003, had enjoyed an excellent start to their return to the top-flight, claiming 10 points from their first six matches, losing just two in the process. However, back-to-back 4-1 defeats to Leicester City and Crystal Palace saw them drop to 15th in the table.
While being in a lowly 15th position, the Whites will enter Sunday's contest against the Gunners just four places and two points behind them, with Mikel Arteta's side having experienced a stuttering start to the campaign.
Despite that, Bielsa, who watched his Leeds side deliver an excellent performance in a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the FA Cup back in January, believes the club remains one of the "best teams" in the top-flight.
"Arsenal is one of the best teams in the league," Bielsa said during his pre-match press call on Friday lunchtime. "They have players of hierarchy in all of their lines.
"They have a manager who proposes a style which distinguishes the team."
As well as heaping praise on Arsenal as a collective unit, Bielsa was also full of praise for Arteta.
The Spaniard took over the reins at the Emirates Stadium almost a year ago and his slowly implemented his philosophy in north London, which has resulted in the club winning two major trophies within his first year in charge.
"He’s a coach who, once he has his team playing how he projects," added Bielsa. "Tactically, if you watch Arsenal closely they show things which I haven’t seen in any other team."
The last Premier League meeting between Leeds and Arsenal at Elland Road resulted in Arsenal winning 4-1 in November 2003, thanks to goals from Thierry Henry (2), Robert Pires and Gilberto Silva.
