Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that he expects to cross paths with Leeds United sooner rather than later after their FA Cup encounter, backing them to achieve promotion to the Premier League this year.
The Whites reignite their old rivalry with the Gunners next week at the Emirates Stadium, with the pair meeting for the first time since 2012 in north London.
With Arsenal having recalled loanee Eddie Nketiah from Elland Road earlier this week, the two sides' encounter has been given an extra dash of spice ahead of what many expect to be a hotly-contested cup clash.
Now, Arteta has professed his admiration for Marcelo Bielsa in discussing the subject of Nketiah's return - and has divulged that he feels Leeds will reach the promised land of the top-flight this time around after last term's near-miss.
"I do, yes," he replied when asked if he felt Leeds would be in the Premier League next season. "The way they play, the manner they behave, I follow their coach for a long time and I know how tough it will be to play against them."
On Bielsa, he added: "Just what he gets out of his team, how he makes them fight and challenge and run and compete, and never give up in any game or any circumstances.
"He generates that belief in the players, those demands and that is why, in my opinion, he is one of the most successful managers.
"To do that consistently every three days, at that level, is very different. For me ,the best thing is that when you talk to players that had him as a coach, the words that they have for him are always positive.
"They were better players after [playing for him], better people, they understood the profession better."
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