Dan James has urged Leeds United not to get carried away with their unbeaten start to the Premier League season, as they prepare to visit champions Arsenal on Saturday.
Leeds are one of five teams yet to taste defeat in the top flight this campaign, having won two and drawn three of their opening five matches.
They went into the extended international break off the back of a goalless draw with Crystal Palace, having thrashed Newcastle United 4-1 in their previous match.
And James – who appeared in three of Wales' four Nations League matches during the hiatus – says everyone around Daniel Farke's squad will be switched on and ready to go at the Emirates Stadium this weekend.
"It is a long season. We have started well and I think it is easy to get carried away," James told LUTV.
"But as I said, we have got tough opponents coming and we have just got to take every game as it goes. You can't underestimate anyone in this league. Anyone can beat anyone.
"We have got a brilliant squad. Winning really helps that environment. We have made good additions to the squad to help with that, and winning games does really help drive us along and keeps us working to be better."
It is the first time Leeds have started a league campaign at any level unbeaten in their first five matches since 2019-20, when they won the Championship under Marcelo Bielsa, and James says starting strongly was a clear aim after Farke's side had to finish well last season.
"We have set really set a high standard, and it is about progressing now in these next five games before the next internationals. We really want to push on," he added.
"We have got tough games coming up, but we really believe that we can go into every game and perform.
"Last season, we didn't quite get off to a good start. It was really that start to the season that stopped us from getting any higher in the table. We have got to keep on that."
Arsenal, meanwhile, lost 3-0 to Brighton in their final game before the break, having started their title defence with four straight victories.
Gunners midfielder Eberechi Eze is yet to start a Premier League match in 2026-27, tallying a mere 85 minutes of action, but he is happy to play either centrally or on the left flank in order to get more gametime.
"I don't mind. They both have pros and cons and come with different challenges," he told BBC Sport when asked about the two positions after England's 3-0 win over Czechia.
"I enjoy both of them. I enjoy finding space and finding ways to score, assist and create things. I enjoy both, so I don't really mind which one I play."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Arsenal – Martin Odegaard
Odegaard, like his team-mate Kai Havertz, has scored in both of Arsenal's home Premier League games this term. With Havertz suffering an injury while representing Germany, it is the Norwegian who may provide the Gunners' foremost goal threat here.
After only netting one goal in all competitions in 2025-26, Odegaard has already found the net four times in 2026-27.
Leeds United – Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Calvert-Lewin is one of only two players to rank in the top 10 for aerial duels won (24), runs ending in the box (33) and high-intensity pressures in the opposition half (187) in the Premier League this season, alongside Everton's Thierno Barry.
The striker has netted three times in his last five outings for Leeds, while he also made a pair of substitute appearances for England during the international break.
MATCH PREDICTION – ARSENAL WIN
Arsenal have won nine of their last 10 Premier League games against Leeds (D1), including each of the last seven by an aggregate score of 24-5.
In addition, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta – who signed a three-year contract extension on Wednesday – has won all four of his Premier League games against Daniel Farke.
It is his joint-best 100% win rate against a manager in the top flight (level with Gary O'Neil), and Farke's worst 100% loss rate against a manager during his career in England.
Arsenal were beaten 3-0 by Brighton last time out, their heaviest defeat since May 2023 (also 3-0 vs Brighton). However, since the start of 2024, the Gunners have only lost back-to-back Premier League games once (in April 2026), with Saturday's match being their 100th league game since then.
Leeds have won just one of their last 17 away league games against the reigning English top-flight champions (D6 L10), although that was the last time they visited Arsenal as title holders, a 3-2 victory in May 2003.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Arsenal – 68.9%
Leeds United – 13.7%
Draw – 17.4%