Tarik Muharemovic has offered a frank assessment of Leeds United’s display following their frustrating weekend draw against Crystal Palace, acknowledging that the squad must improve in possession if they want to maintain their strong early form.

​Daniel Farke’s side struggled to generate momentum on Sunday afternoon, failing to find their usual attacking rhythm against a stubborn Palace outfit. The shared points left a bittersweet feeling around the camp. While the performance fell short of expectations, Leeds still managed to protect their undefeated record in the Premier League.

​The result brings a challenging five-game stretch to a close. After testing fixtures against Nottingham Forest, Brentford, Brighton, Newcastle United, and now Crystal Palace, the Whites have secured nine points from a possible 15. That tally lifts them into an impressive fifth place as domestic football pauses for the international break.

​Even with that healthy league position, the players clearly felt an opportunity slipped away. The missed chance to secure all three points hurts even more given the daunting task awaiting them on the other side of the break. When Premier League action returns, Leeds face reigning champions Arsenal, making any dropped points against mid-table opposition a difficult pill to swallow.

​Speaking to BBC Sport after the final whistle, Muharemovic was pragmatic about the afternoon’s work. The defender praised the opposition while openly admitting that Leeds were well below their best with the football.

​”It is a hard-fought point,” Muharemovic said. “At the end of the day, we are still unbeaten in the Premier League. It is a very good thing. We take the point and go to the break unbeaten. Crystal Palace are a good team and we saw how good they can play. They were very compact in defence. Respect to them, they played really good. You saw two teams who fought for everything. The intensity was there but, with the ball, we know we can do much better.”

​The center-back also highlighted the strong bond inside the dressing room, adding that he loves playing alongside teammates he views as brothers.

​Sunday was undeniably an off-day, and maximizing points ahead of the international window would have provided a welcome buffer. Arsenal will head into their upcoming clash with Leeds under heavy scrutiny after suffering a shock 3-0 loss at the hands of Brighton. Mikel Arteta’s side will be eager to bounce back, meaning the Whites will face a motivated, dangerous opponent looking to prove a point.

​Farke now has a brief window to regroup, assess the squad, and address the sloppy moments on the ball that prevented Leeds from breaking through Palace’s defensive block. While remaining unbeaten after five matches represents an encouraging return to top-flight life, the squad knows that a significant step up in quality will be required when the champions arrive in town.