Preview: Leeds United vs Arsenal – prediction, team news, lineups

Leaders against Leeds United are on the menu at Elland Road this Saturday, as Arsenal look to end their Premier League rut alongside Daniel Farke.

The Gunners have endured a dismal three-game winless run in the top flight, while the Whites are strengthening their survival skills with each passing week.

Match Preview

Whether it’s the effects of a relentless schedule, familiar problems cropping up or their opponents simply looking for a second wind, a few cracks have started to appear in Arsenal’s Premier League title fight.

As was the case in 2021, when Michael Carrick orchestrated a Manchester United win 3-2 at Old Trafford – the Red Devils interim manager masterminded an identical, magnificent success at the Emirates last Sunday, when the red and blue halves of the city celebrated.

While Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha may not score sweeter goals this season, Arsenal’s 0.39 expected goals from open play tells the story of a team that is flattering to deceive once again in the build-up stages – a familiar story for a good 18 months now.

Manchester City and Aston Villa triumphs before Arsenal defeat mean Gunners’ lead at the top of the table Premier League table now have four points, and although they still have the best away record in the top flight, only two of their last six away games in the PL have ended in victory.

Mikel Arteta’s men at least got back to winning ways on Wednesday 3-2 Champions League victory against Kairat – which saw them finish the league stage with a 100% winning record – but the second 45 was another torturous watch for the Emirates faithful in the attacking sense.

© Imago / Professional sports images

Speaking of painful second halves, Leeds’ traveling contingent were in dreamland at half-time at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, where James Justin’s strike put the Whites in control against David Moyes’ Everton.

However, Farke’s men – who had beaten Derby County and Fulham before their trip to Merseyside – were cruelly denied a third successive victory in all competitions, as man of the moment Thierno Barry equalized for Everton in the final 15 minutes.

Nonetheless, every point can prove to be a valuable point in the fight against relegation for 16th-placed Leeds, who are now six points clear of the drop zone thanks largely to their superb home form.

Indeed, the Whites have suffered just two Premier League defeats at Elland Road this season, have gone unbeaten in five of those losses since that 2-1 reverse to Aston Villa in November and have scored in 10 of their 11 top-flight matches on home turf in 2025-26.

However, Leeds failed to draw in their last home game against Arsenal – a 1-0 defeat in October 2022 – and the Gunners’ 5-0 thrashing at the Emirates represented their sixth consecutive league victory against the hosts on Saturday.

Leeds United Premier League form:

Leeds United form (all competitions):

Arsenal form in the Premier League:

Arsenal form (all competitions):

Team News

© Imago / Action Plus

Neither William Saliba nor Jurrien Timber were available for Arsenal’s win over Kairat due to problems, although either man is not thought to be nursing anything serious and should be fine for Saturday’s game.

Additionally, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino will return from suspension to further strengthen Arteta’s squad, meaning 16-year-old Max Dowman (ankle) could be the only absentee for the visitors at Elland Road.

The vast majority of Wednesday night’s starters will make way for the established first XI, but after grabbing a goal and an assist in a marvelous 45-minute appearance, Kai Havertz has undoubtedly put himself in contention for a first Premier League start of the season.

On the Leeds side, Farke could also receive some fitness boosts, as Gabriel Gudmundsson (adductor) and Daniel James (thigh) could both return for the visit of the league leaders.

However, defender Jaka Bijol is out for around a month due to his thigh injury, so Sebastiaan Bornauw is expected to continue in the hosts’ 3-5-2 setup, which should frustrate Arteta’s men to no end.

Following his sensational six-game run from November to December, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has scored just once in his last five Premier League games, and the 28-year-old is also without a goal against Arsenal since 2020.

Leeds United possible starting XI:

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

Possible Arsenal starting lineup:

Raya; Bois, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Trossard

We say: Leeds United 1-1 Arsenal

There will be no silver bullet to Arsenal’s perennial attacking problems – as games against Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, Man Utd and Kairat demonstrated – nor is Arteta’s backline as impenetrable as it once was.

Facing a Leeds side who have taken points from Liverpool, Man Utd and Chelsea at Elland Road this season, we can see the Gunners failing once again, as the manner in which Wednesday’s second half performance was extremely alarming.

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