Arsenal travel to west Yorkshire on Sunday evening hoping to get their Premier League campaign back on track following the international break.
Both sides look to get back on track
Both the Gunners and Leeds United find themselves in the bottom half after three defeats in four games and defeats by three goal margins last time out. The spotlight is on Arsenal, however, following the 3-0 home defeat to Aston Villa a fortnight ago- regarded by many as the lowest point in Mikel Arteta’s reign so far.
Leeds meanwhile are yet to keep a clean sheet at home this season, in a campaign that has seen them ship and score goals aplenty. Marcelo Bielsa’s side will fancy their chances of changing that record against a goal shy Arsenal, for who it has been over six hours since they scored from open play in the league.
It is potentially a defining game for the visitors- a win could see Arsenal leap into seventh if results go their way, and keeps them in touch with the European places. Leeds meanwhile, not quite looking over their shoulders just yet, will be eyeing a return to mid table and would go above Arsenal with a win.
Team news
Leeds welcome back Kalvin Phillips from his shoulder injury, whilst Rodrigo looks set to feature in some capacity having returned from self-isolation. Pablo Hernandez misses out with a muscle injury.
Arsenal are without Mohamed Elneny- who has tested positive for Covid-19- and Thomas Partey, who is still recovering from a thigh injury. It could see a Premier League return for Granit Xhaka alongside Dani Ceballos.
Predicted Lineups
Leeds United: Meslier; Ayling, Koch, Cooper, Dallas; Phillips; Costa, Roberts, Klich, Harrison; Bamford
Arsenal: Leno; Bellerin, Luiz, Gabriel, Tierney, Saka; Xhaka, Ceballos; Willian, Aubameyang, Lacazette
Form guide
Leeds: WDLWLL
Arsenal: LWLLWL
Ones to watch
Leeds: Patrick Bamford is United’s top scorer with seven Premier League goals and will be key as they look to avoid three defeats in a row for the first time under Bielsa. Arsenal will need to be at their best to keep him quiet as he looks to have found his feet in the top flight.
Arsenal: New signing Gabriel has been a bright spot in an indifferent campaign for the Gunners and has established a strong partnership on the left side of the defence, alongside Kieran Tierney. A strong performance from the Brazilian will be needed to keep Leeds quiet.
Previous meetings
Leeds have failed to win their last seven against Arsenal- a record stretching back to 2003. That record is even worse at home for the Whites- Arsenal are undefeated at Elland Road since 2000. Arsenal scraped a 1-0 win in the FA Cup third round back in January, the sides’ last meeting, thanks to a Reiss Nelson goal.
Where to watch on TV
Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League, KO 16:30 GMT
What the managers have said
Marcelo Bielsa (Leeds United): on Kalvin Phillips’s impressive progress: “The evolution of Phillips is a constant one, not due to what I am proposing but because he has a lot of capacity to analyse and criticise himself. He finds what he needs to improve and corrects it. And he does this by himself.”
Mikel Arteta (Arsenal): on how Leeds will approach the game: “They're going to go 100mph for every ball, they way they press you, the way they challenge you, the way they go about the game for 96 minutes. They will make it a really difficult and really intense game.”