ARSENAL and Leeds will both be looking to get back to winning ways when they clash at Elland Road this afternoon.
The game should be the perfect match-up of tactical nous… and expect plenty of goals as both Marcelo Bielsa and Mikel Arteta go head-to-head in the Premier League for the first time.
- Start time: 4.30 GMT
- TV/Live stream: Sky Sports Football/Premier League
- Leeds XI: To follow
- Arsenal XI: To follow
Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
A ROQUE ROAD?
Big things are expected of Raphinha at Elland Road with the 23-year-old set to make his first start for Leeds since signing from Rennes for £17m.
He is set to become the first Brazilian to start a game for the club in the Premier League since Roque Junior faced Portsmouth during his loan spell in 2003.
Well, Raphinha can’t fare any worse than he did.
FRIENDS REUNITED
Eddie Nketiah is named on the Arsenal substitutes’ bench this afternoon as he returns to Elland Road.
The 21-year-old striker enjoyed a loan spell at Leeds during the first half of last season’s title-winning campaign in the Championship where he scored five goals in all competitions.
The youngster is clearly fondly remembered in West Yorkshire as this image ahead of kick-off shows.
SUNSHINE ON LEEDS
It’s a glorious setting for Premier League football as Elland Road soaks up the crisp air and autumn sun.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE?
Before Arsenal fans get excited by the expectation of seeing Aubameyang through the middle rather than shunted out on the left, here’s a word of warning.
ARSENAL SUBSTITUTES
13 Runarsson, 7 Saka, Lacazette, 15 Maitland-Niles, 20 Mustafi, 24 Nelson, 30 Nketiah.
ARSENAL XI
It’s a change of shape and personnel for Mikel Arteta after that 3-0 thumping by Aston Villa. The Arsenal boss goes 4-2-3-1 with Dani Ceballos, Granit Xhaka, Joe Willock and Nicolas Pepe coming into the side; out go Thomas Partey, Mohamed Elneny, Bukayo Saka and Alexandre Lacazette. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang captains the side and is expected to play through the middle.
LEEDS UNITED SUBSTITUTES
13 Casilla, 7 Poveda, 11 Roberts, 17 Costa, 20 Rodrigo, 21 Struijk, 24 Davis.
LEEDS UNITED XI
Kalvin Phillips is back! The Leeds United midfielder’s return is one of two changes that Marcelo Bielsa makes following defeat at Crystal Palace before the international break. The England man replaces Pascal Struijk while Raphinha makes his first start for the club following his £17m move from Rennes; the Brazilian is in for Helder Costa. You never know with Marcelo Bielsa, but it looks a setup of 3-3-3-1 for the Elland Road side.
1 Meslier, 2 Ayling, 5 Koch, 6 Cooper, 15 Dallas, 23 Phillips, 10 Alioski, 18 Raphinha, 43 Klich, 22 Harrison, 9 Bamford.
THE TEAM SHEETS ARE IN!
AU DEAR
In stark contrast to Bamford, many expected Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to star again for Arsenal after he netted 22 Premier League goals throughout the last campaign.
However, the forward has scored just two league goals so far, and has failed to net from open play since the first day of the season.
The Gabonese international has managed only four shots across his last four Premier League games with his only effort on target being a successful penalty against Manchester United.
The Gunners captain is averaging just 1.3 shots per 90 minutes this season compared to 2.7 last term.
PAT ATTACK
Patrick Bamford has confounded the critics this season after many had written off his ability to flourish at the highest level of domestic football.
The striker has scored seven goals in his eight Premier League games for Leeds United with only the aforementioned Mark Viduka (9) having netted more during their first eight such games for the club.
However, only one of Bamford’s seven strikes this season has come at Elland Road – in the 4-3 victory over Fulham – and he will be eager to put that right today.
LEEDS LOOKING BACK
It’s more than 17 years since Leeds United last beat Arsenal when a late Mark Viduka winner earned them all three points in a Premiership thriller at Highbury.
Harry Kewell opened the scoring early on for the visitors before Thierry Henry struck back for the hosts. Ian Harte (pictured below) restored Leeds’ lead after the break, only for it to be cancelled out by Dennis Bergkamp.
The match looked destined for a draw until Viduka netted two minutes from time for Peter Reid’s side.
Since that 3-2 success, the Yorkshire club have failed to win any of their seven meetings between the clubs – although it’s worth noting that five of those came in the FA CUP with Leeds stuck in the lower divisions.
GOOD AFTERNOON FROM ELLAND ROAD
Welcome to our live coverage of Leeds United against Arsenal in the Premier League.
The international break is usually a drawn-out affair for fans of club football but, for Leeds supporters, the pause has been a most welcome one.
Having missed a month with a shoulder injury, these two weeks have allowed Kalvin Phillips to return to full fitness and he is expected to retake his place in the heart of Leeds’ midfield this afternoon.
The England international has been the man that Marcelo Bielsa has built success at Elland Road around, and it is no surprise that their form has stuttered in his absence – the Yorkshire side have slipped from third to 15th in that period.
Successive 4-1 defeats to Leicester and Crystal Palace have clouded the impressive start made on their return to the top-flight, but the Whites can take heart from the fact that they have never lost three-in-a-row since Bielsa took charge.
Arsenal also suffered a heavy loss last time out, once again emphasising that they are very much a work-in-progress under Mikel Arteta.
Their 3-0 home defeat to Aston Villa ensured the Gunners remain consistent in their inconsistency, leaving them languishing in midtable with four wins and four losses from their eight games so far.
Thomas Partey, their big-money arrival from Atletico Madrid, was withdrawn at half-time in that clash with a thigh injury, and is likely to be unavailable for today’s clash.
Meanwhile, Sead Kolasinac and Mohamed Elneny are definitely out after testing positive for coronavirus while on international duty.
We’ll bring you confirmation of the two teams shortly with kick-off to come at 4.30pm.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
