Ahead of Monday’s primetime FA Cup third round showdown between Arsenal and Leeds United, winger Ezgjan Alioski wants his side to be confident in their first FA Cup match of the season.
We can’t be scared of going there because it is Arsenal. It’s a nice stadium to play at and of course it is a big club.
Alioski, who has scored 18 goals in his 104 appearances since joining the Whites in 2017, has been a key player for Leeds this season, where he has contributed four goals and two assists as his side sit at the top of the Championship table with 52 points after 26 matches.
The North Macedonia international went on to say:
It’s not a big difference, the difference is they are in the Premier League and we are in the Championship and it is nice to be able to go there and show them who Leeds are.
I think we need to go there with a lot of confidence, which we always have, and to play which we always do. Everybody knows Arsenal and they are a big club, but we are also a good team and we show it.
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There really isn’t a reason for Leeds to enter the match low on confidence, as they will face an Arsenal side who have had another disappointing season, although new manager Mikel Arteta has plans to change that. This will be his greatest chance at winning his first trophy as Arsenal boss.
Another player to watch out for is Patrick Bamford, who has scored 10 goals in 26 appearances this season. The former Middlesborough forward will be eager to open his scoring account in the new year.
