Arsenal welcome Leeds to the Emirates Stadium in a tasty penultimate Super Sunday match, as both teams look to boost their bid for a top ten finish.
Victory would see Mikel Arteta’s Gunners leapfrog Leeds into tenth, whereas a win would move Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites four points clear of Arsenal and closer towards the race for fourth.
Team News
Kieran Tierney could return for Arsenal if he passes a late fitness test on a knee injury.
Thomas Partey (thigh) is ruled out but David Luiz and Bernd Leno are set to return after serving one match bans in last weekend’s loss at Aston Villa.
Leeds could be without Kalvin Phillips due to a calf injury suffered in Monday’s win over Crystal Palace.
Pablo Hernandez, Diego Llorente (both muscle), Rodrigo (groin), Gaetano Berardi, Robin Koch (both knee), Ian Poveda (ankle) and Adam Forshaw (hip) are ruled out.
Stat Attack
- Arsenal are unbeaten in their last six league meetings against Leeds (W3, D2, L1).
- Leeds won two of their last five league trips to Arsenal (W2, L3), although this is their first such league visit to the Emirates Stadium as all previous such meetings were held at Highbury.
- Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds have lost all three away trips to London-based teams this season (L3) in Premier League.
- Granit Xhaka is the only Arsenal player to have scored a free-kick this season in the Premier League.
- Rodrigo has hit the woodwork on more occasions than any other Leeds player this season, having found the frame on four occasions.
Prediction
Arsenal come into this match off the back of a disappointing performance at Aston Villa where they were simply outplayed through a mixture of brilliant defending and unexpected attacks, although they did create opportunities themselves despite lacking power upon goal.
Leeds meanwhile just dominated Crystal Palace on Monday but their away record in London this season has been poor, so they are going to need another sharp performance here if are to take a slightly surprising victory.
This however is really a make or break game for Arsenal in terms of their hopes for a top four finish, whereas Leeds know that they’re underdogs and can themselves move closer towards the fight for Champions League football.
I am therefore expecting a decent game between two attacking teams but if Leeds can continue their recent improved form of three wins in their last four matches and Tierney is absent for the hosts, I fancy them to cause a shock here.
Prediction: Arsenal 1-2 Leeds
Result: Arsenal 4-2 Leeds
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