Joel Piroe explains how Arsenal and Manchester City stars are helping him shine for Leeds United

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Joel Piroe has told Sky Sports that he regularly studies Manchester City duo Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez, as well as Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard in order to improve his performances for Leeds.

There is a slight connection between Leeds and Manchester City in the way of tactics, and attacking personnel, now. It is of course, a leap to compare Piroe and Georginio Rutter, with Haaland and Alvarez.

But City are playing with two strikers. Two no.9’s, only one of them is dropping in as a 10. Alvarez is playing behind Haaland at the moment. The difference at Leeds, is that Piroe and Rutter swap around.

Defensively, Piroe will drop in front of the midfield and look to pick up from deep while Rutter plays as the no.9. But when in attack, Rutter is often seen dropping in and it allows Piroe to go beyond him.

Leeds summer signing Piroe, who already has five goals for the Whites, says that he has been studying Alvarez and Haaland – and their movement. He also keeps an eye on the Arsenal playmaker Odegaard.

“I love to watch big Premier League and Champions League games. I like how Haaland and Alvarez work. There are some similarities. You see the runs Haaland makes, that’s something we can add to our game.

“It’s about making sure we have all the positions covered, so we can be even more effective. I also like to watch Odegaard. It is good to analyse when you want to be a midfielder, and when to play like a striker.”

Piroe watches Manchester City duo and Arsenal’s Odegaard

There are similarities in the way City are playing this season and what Leeds are trying to do. Inverted full-backs, controlling possession, a holding midfielder combined with more of a no.6, box to box.

Ultimately, playing two no.9’s means the goal threat is higher. Is Piroe as hard-working as perhaps a normal no.8, a natural midfielder? No. But with Ethan Ampadu and Glen Kamara behind him, who cares?

They have the energy and the quality to dominate midfields by themselves. Ampadu has been one of the signings of the summer in the Championship and Kamara is not far behind. We have all the pieces.