'Farke and players will relish opportunity against Arsenal'

Leeds United's improvement was underlined by the obvious disappointment of manager Daniel Farke that they only left Everton with a point.

Farke, whose position appeared under threat after struggling at the start of their return to the Premier League, has fashioned a significant improvement to make Leeds look at home in the top flight.

Leeds were so much better than Everton in the first 45 minutes that a single-goal lead was nowhere near a reflection of their superiority.

In the final reckoning, the key moment was when Dominic Calvert-Lewin struck the post with a relatively simple chance with Leeds one up and in control.

The result leaves Leeds six points clear of the relegation places. On the evidence of this display, and others recently, they should not be harbouring any serious relegation concerns.

Farke said: "It is a good result, to come away to Everton is tough. A bit disappointed as well though as we were not far off winning it. We perhaps could have buried the game with a second goal."

The manager was under serious pressure earlier in the season, but he remained calm and has worked superbly to make Leeds United look like a Premier League team.

Leeds may have lost to Manchester City at the end of November, but the manner in which they came from 2-0 down early on to only lose to a stoppage-time goal from Phil Foden set the platform for improvement.

Farke switched to 3-5-2 at half-time, introducing Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha. It was a performance, even in defeat, that made Leeds suddenly feel comfortable in their own skin.

Leeds have lost only one game in 11 since then, one in 10 in the league, to give them real optimism of survival.

They face Arsenal at Elland Road on Saturday, a tough task for the Premier League leaders, who looked a bag of nerves in the home loss to Manchester United on Sunday.

It is a fixture Farke and his players will relish.