Arsenal vs Leeds predicted XI: Bring out the dead!

Defense

David Luiz and Sokratis really need a well-earned break, especially if we don’t plan on adding any centerback reinforcements this winter. They need to keep Sokratis and Luiz fresh, and that means sitting them both here.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

Which gives us very limited options. The easiest is to put in Shkodran Mustafi and Rob Holding, which I expected to be the decision that Arteta makes. The only other option is Konstantinos Mavropanos, but faith in him is looking shaky at best lately.

This puts big stress on Holding, as Mustafi is far from reliable, but hey, they’re on the team, we might as well try to get the best out of them.

At fullback, there isn’t any option. Hector Bellerin isn’t likely to be back yet, nor is Sead Kolasinac, and Kieran Tierney still faces a lay-off as well. That leaves Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Bukayo Saka to hold down the fort.

Moving on to the midfield.