Leeds United’s quest to avoid Premier League relegation continues with a tough home fixture against league leaders Arsenal, who dismantled the Whites 5-0 in the reverse fixture. With their gap over the relegation zone reduced to just six points, Daniel Farke’s men will be desperate to get something against the Gunners, who have stuttered slightly in recent weeks. Here is our Leeds United team news and predicted lineup.
Leeds United Team News and Predicted Lineup as League Leaders Arsenal Visit Elland Road
How Leeds Have Lined Up Recently
In their most recent match, a 1-1 away draw at Everton, Farke again opted for Welshman Karl Darlow in the Leeds goal, leaving summer signing Lucas Perri on the bench. Despite playing 16 games this season, the Brazilian has struggled to ever look truly comfortable between the sticks, and will now have to force his way back into the side.
At the back, stalwarts Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk were partnered with Sebastiaan Bornauw in the centre of defence, with Jaka Bijol still yet to return to full fitness. It was another solid display from Belgian international Bornauw, whose physical, no-nonsense style of defending makes him a tricky customer for any opposition striker.
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In the wing-back positions, James Justin was moved over to the left side with Gabi Gudmundsson out, and the 27-year-old fired home his first league goal in Leeds colours to open the scoring against the Toffees. On the right-hand side, Jayden Bogle was impressive again, and is one of several Leeds players who have gone from strength to strength since making the jump up from the Championship.
In midfield, skipper Ethan Ampadu was selected alongside Ilia Gruev and Anton Stach, with Farke, as usual, selecting a more steely midfield trio away from home in order to try to dominate the centre of the park and nullify the opposition’s creativity.
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Up front, Dominic Calvert-Lewin was partnered with Brenden Aaronson, who was operating as a withdrawn forward alongside his towering counterpart. With loanee Facundo Buonanotte coming on to make his debut late in the game, it raises the question as to whether Leeds could play the Argentinian alongside Aaronson to give Leeds additional creativity going forward.
Leeds Recent Form and Tactics
What has been so impressive about Leeds under Farke this season is that you can only really point to one game where they have been comprehensively beaten and outplayed. For the vast majority of the campaign, even when losing, they have made life extremely difficult for opponents, forcing the likes of Manchester City and Newcastle to find last-ditch winners to secure victories.
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Unfortunately, the only team to have beaten Leeds comprehensively was Arsenal, who smashed United 5-0 in the reverse fixture in August at the Emirates. Farke will therefore have to hope that the vast improvements his side have made since that point, and their tactical switch to a back three, will allow them to give the Gunners a much tougher game.
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A defeat against Mikel Arteta’s men could see the Whites’ gap over the relegation zone halved to just three points, which would leave the Elland Road faithful feeling rather more nervous as the season progresses.
Leeds United Team News
In his pre-match press conference, Farke confirmed that both Bijol and Lukas Nmecha will not be available to take on the Gunners. He did, however, state that Nmecha should be back to take on Nottingham Forest next time out.
In Gudmundsson’s case, there is reportedly a “small possibility” that he will feature in some capacity.
Leeds United Predicted Lineup
GK: Karl Darlow
CB: Joe Rodon
CB: Sebastiaan Bournaw
CB: Pascal Struijk
RWB: Jayden Bogle
LWB: James Justin
CM: Ethan Ampadu
CM: Anton Stach
CM: Ilia Gruev
ST: Brenden Aaronson
ST: Dominic Calvert-Lewin
