Leeds United head coach Jesse Marsch believes that Arsenal's Mikel Arteta is the most underrated manager in the Premier League.
The Gunners have made an excellent start to the 2022-23 campaign and travel to Elland Road on Sunday after winning each of their last six matches across all competitions.
Prior to Thursday's 1-0 Europa League win over Bodo/Glimt, Arteta's side climbed back to the summit of the Premier League after securing a 3-2 home victory against Liverpool last weekend.
Marsch has been impressed with the work carried out by Arteta at the Emirates Stadium and believes that more plaudits should be heading the Spaniard's way.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Friday, Marsch said: "Mikel Arteta has done an amazing job, I think he's the most underrated manager in the league.
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"With a young team he's done an amazing job. It's taken time, he took a lot of heat in the beginning. For us it can be a big boost to have a big result against an opponent like this.
"We're confident at Elland Road we can play the way we want. We want to challenge them in certain ways."
Asked whether Arsenal are genuine title contenders this season, Marsch said: "You have to say yes, they've looked very strong and played against good opponents. I always do a thorough job of scouting, we know they're a good team and they have quality.
"I also like when teams and coaches improve and grow together, I think that's what's happened with Arsenal. To be back at the top of the table shows they've been able to find a process and stuck with it."
As for Leeds, Marsch has been pleased with his side's start to the campaign, but the American has urged his players to improve in the final third.
After scoring 10 goals in their opening four matches across all competitions, including three wins and one draw, the West Yorkshire outfit have since found the net just four times in their last five games and have failed to win during this run.
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"For the most part we've played quite well through the runs of our matches, I feel like we've been in the match and we know how competitive the games are," Marsch added.
"We haven't – apart from Brentford – given up many goals. I think the biggest room for improvement is goalscoring. It's turning advantages into chances and chances into shots and shots into goals."
"It's keeping belief in the group, keeping the clarity and the confidence in our attacking group that they have what we need. We haven't had a win in a long time and we feel that and we're desperate to get this thing moving in the way that represents the progress we've made."
Marsch has also provided an injury update on five first-team players ahead of Sunday's contest, with both Patrick Bamford and Junior Firpo available for selection.
Leeds, who have lost each of their last three Premier League games against Arsenal, currently sit 14th in the table but could climb into the top half with a win over the Gunners this weekend.
Oliver Thomas
