Leeds v Arsenal – Line-ups, stats and preview

Leeds v Arsenal Match Preview

Premier League leaders Arsenal are on the road as they take their narrow four-point lead to Leeds this weekend.

Last weekend’s stunning 3-2 defeat at home to Manchester United has potentially opened the door for Manchester City and Aston Villa and Mikel Arteta’s side cannot afford to drop any more points at Elland Road.

Leeds have never won a Premier League home game against the side starting the day top of the table but Daniel Farke’s side are a solid proposition these days, and have lost just one of their last six games.

Four of those have been draws, so Arteta may be in for a frustrating afternoon in Yorkshire.

Arsenal did make it eight wins from eight in the Champions League league phase in midweek.

“I am very proud of the players and the run that we have had in the first stage of the competition,” Arteta said.

“It is very difficult to win eight games in a row in the Champions League and you can see what has happened with other teams.

“We really need to acknowledge that, but that is it, and now the competition stops. We will have a period of reflection, and then prepare for our next opponents, and go game-by game.”

Leeds v Arsenal team news

Leeds could have winger Daniel James available after a thigh injury, and defender Gabriel Gudmundsson is also back in the mix.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s goalscoring run has come to an end but he will continue in attack.

Arsenal made eight changes for the Champions League win over Kairat as Kai Havertz scored on his first start in nearly a year.

He could feature again, either in midfield or attack, while defenders William Saliba and Jurrien Timber are among those set to return to the starting XI.

Leeds v Arsenal expected line-ups

Leeds: Darlow; Rodon, Struijk, Bornauw; Bogle, Gruev, Stach, Ampadu, Justin; Aaronson, Calvert-Lewin

Arsenal: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Trossard

The stats

• Arsenal have scored 4+ goals in eight different Premier League games against Leeds, beating them 5-0 in August’s reverse fixture. Only against Everton (12) have they done so more in the competition.
• Leeds are unbeaten in their last five Premier League home games (W3 D2), last having a longer run in the same top-flight campaign between March and May 2021 (6 – W3 D3).
• 10 different Arsenal players have scored 2+ goals in a Premier League match against Leeds, with both Jurriën Timber and Viktor Gyökeres netting a brace in August’s 5-0 win. Only against Everton (11) and Southampton (12) have the Gunners had more different players net at least twice in a match.
• Declan Rice could make his 300th Premier League appearance in this match (204 for West Ham, 95 for Arsenal currently). Aged 27 years and 17 days on the day, he would be the fifth youngest to reach the milestone after Wayne Rooney (26y 58d), James Milner (26y 117d), Gareth Barry (26y 247d) and Raheem Sterling (26y 348d).

How to watch Leeds v Arsenal

The match is not available to broadcast live in the UK as it kicks off at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon.

Prediction

What To Do If You Have A Gambling Problem

We understand that gambling can be fun, but it is always important to gamble responsibly. If you are struggling with a gambling problem, please do not hesitate to ask for help. There are people who can help you get on the road to recovery. Below, we have listed some helpful resources to help aid you on the road to recovery.

• National Gambling Helpline: 0808 8020 133
• GamCare: https://www.gamcare.org.uk
• GambleAware: www.gambleaware.com