‘Bielsa all ready for the Prem’

JOHN HENDRIE is praying that tomorrow night’s clash between Arsenal and Leeds United will herald regular games between the two former foes.

Since 2004, Leeds have lost their place among the elite, but they visit the Emirates with a nine point cushion along with West Brom ahead of the chasing Championship pack.

Former striker Hendrie, now a match-day host at Elland Road, doesn’t believe there will be any repeat of last season’s fade-out, which led to Marcelo Bielsa (below) and his side missing out on their long-awaited return to the Premier League.

But the Scot also believes that the January transfer window is far more important this time around than the FA Cup.

“What cost them last season was the January window. All they brought in was the keeper Kiko Casilla,” said Hendrie.

“Their rivals, such as Sheffield United, invested in a few players and that got them over the line.

“Leeds play at a high intensity. You could see, even before the play-off games against Derby, which they lost, that the players were on their last legs. One or two extra bodies would have helped.”

Already two of their loan players, Eddie Nketiah and Jack Clarke, have returned to Arsenal and Spurs, but Leeds were linked with a move for Southampton striker Che Adams.

Everything, insists Hendrie, is in place for Premier League football at Elland Road – especially with Bielsa at the helm.

“He has done a magnificent job,” he said. “The biggest signing Leeds made last summer was getting him to stay on.”