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Leeds United power rankings: Anton Stach in two new entries as summer signing drops out completely
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- Leeds United power rankings: Anton Stach in two new entries as summer signing drops out completely
Leeds United were finally back in Premier League action against Arsenal on Saturday afternoon.
After three weeks away, a trip to the Emirates to take on the reigning champions felt daunting.
You wouldn't have known that, though, with Daniel Farke's men dominating for over an hour in north London.
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Taking the lead through James Justin's composed finish, Leeds were on track to preserve their unbeaten start.
Goals from Riccardo Calafiori and Bruno Guimaraes secured a 2-1 win for Mikel Arteta and the Gunners, though.
That's what you can do with hundreds of millions on the bench, and Leeds left with pride and buckets of praise behind them.
After that, MOT Leeds Newshas picked their latest round of player rankings from Elland Road.
Who has dropped out of Leeds power rankings?
It wasn't the best week for James Trafford.
While not completely bad, the record signing will not have been pleased with his efforts to prevent Calafiori from scoring.
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Another to miss out is Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but not from his own doing, especially after tormenting the likes of Gabriel and Ezri Konsa all afternoon at the Emirates.
He'll look to do that and more against Manchester United on Sunday.
So, who is in?
5 - Anton Stach
The German has faced criticism this season, and justifiably so.
After scoring the winner at Nottingham Forest on the opening day, he's started every game since, but has looked leggy at times.
Being pushed further forward by Farke didn't help at first, but he was everywhere against Arsenal, winning all of his tackles and taking 50 touches.
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With big games to come, Stach will be crucial to any success.
Arsenal vs Leeds stat attack: Anton Stach an aerial colossus, teammate's distribution now an issue 4 - Jayden Bogle
After his start to the season, he simply has to be in these rankings.
The right-hand side has been phenomenal for Farke and Leeds, and somewhat of a secret attacking weapon from defence.
Another masterclass in tormenting your opposition with endless running was on show at Arsenal, with Gabriel Gudmundsson doing the same.
3 - James Justin
A second new entry of the week, it simply had to be Justin.
The former Leicester man has transformed himself at Elland Road, playing further forward as a wing-back, or now deeper in a three-back formation.
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Farke demands his right-sided central defender to bomb into the box, and Justin is delivering that every week.
We saw it in his goals against Everton and Wolves last season, and he's done the same at Arsenal and Forest this year.
He's in the form of his life right now.
2 - Tarik Muharemovic
Last week's leader has dropped slightly.
The Bosnian was a collosus once again, but Kai Havertz did get one too many chances without scoring on Saturday.
Of course, that will happen against the champions, but all round, he was great on and off the ball.
Leeds have found a real gem, and he'll be bringing that passion to Elland Road against Man United on Sunday.
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We bet he can't wait for that.
1 - Ao Tanaka
Going all the way from fifth to first, is there anything this man can't do?
A gentle reminder that Tanaka cost Leeds only £3million from the German second-tier from Fortuna Dusseldorf.
Now, he's starting every week in the Premier League and his engine in midfield is simply freakish.
Arsenal had Declan Rice and Myles Lewis-Skelly in midfield, and both will have been fed up with how close Tanaka was consistently, winning the ball and starting attacks of his own.
Games coming up against Man United, Sunderland, Bournemouth, Spurs and Chelsea suit Tanaka perfectly, and he's going to be huge in the coming weeks.
