Leeds United look to bounce back from a disastrous midweek defeat as Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites host Arsenal at Elland Road.
Victory would see Leeds climb to 15th in the table, whereas Arsenal can stay fourth with a win but build a four-point gap to West Ham – after the Hammers’ game was postponed.
Team News
Junior Firpo is suspended for Leeds after picking up his fifth booking of the season against Manchester City in midweek.
Daniel James (adductor) and Jamie Shackleton (Achilles) are ruled out as Pascal Struijk (foot), Liam Cooper, Kalvin Phillips, Patrick Bamford (all hamstring), Rodrigo (heel) and Robin Koch (illness) remain absent.
Arsenal could be without Gabriel Martinelli after he suffered a knock in Wednesday’s win over West Ham.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (discipline), Sead Kolasinac (ankle) and Bernd Leno (groin) remains absent.
Stat Attack
- Leeds have won just one of their last seven league meetings against Arsenal (W1, D2, L4).
- Arsenal have lost just one of their last five league visits to Elland Road (W2, D2, L1).
- Leeds’ Stuart Dallas was booked in both meetings against Arsenal last season.
- No Leeds player has been caught offside more occasions this season than Daniel James, who was offside on six separate occasions in 14 league appearances.
- Two of Emile Smith Rowe’s six league goals have been assisted by Bukayo Saka this season.
Prediction
After delivering a toothless defensive display of little effort in their crushing at Man City on Tuesday, Leeds now need to take heart from their pace and dangerous intent when on the attack and convert that aspect into clinical finishing.
Arsenal meanwhile were simply excellent against West Ham on Wednesday evening, yet their away form is simply poor which is a worry especially after losing their last two away games from 1-0 up, so they really need to replicate Wednesday’s display here with more focus.
Now if Mikel Arteta’s Gunners do that then this should be a routine win given Leeds’ issues but it wouldn’t be a surprise if Leeds rebound at home given their recent form at Elland Road, so this hopefully should get feisty.
Prediction: Leeds 1-2 Arsenal
Result: Leeds 1-4 Arsenal
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