Arsenal: 3 things we’d like to see in EFL Cup vs Leeds

There is no rest for the wicked with Arsenal back in action on Tuesday as they prepare to face Leeds United in the EFL Cup round of 16. It will be their third straight home fixture and third in eight days.

Who needs European football, eh? The midweeks are being filled up with domestic up action instead as the Gunners’ first all-Premier League tie of the competition so far has coughed up a cracker.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side head to the Emirates in with just one win in their previous eight matches (discounting penalty shootout success over Fulham because it has more impact that way) whereas Mikel Arteta’s side are unbeaten in their last seven, winning five.

The 3-1 win over Aston Villa was the most complete performance of the season and with momentum firmly on their side it will be interesting to see how strong the manager goes with his starting lineup.

3 things we’d like to see from Arteta’s Arsenal in their Carabao Cup round of 16 clash with Leeds United on Tuesday night

With a team in the league all-but set in stone every week with a first choice back five and a near immovable front four, this fixture comes around as a huge opportunity for most.

A balance between competitiveness while also handing minutes to those in need has to be struck, as the bottom line is that this competition may prove to be Arsenal’s best chance of lifting silverware this season.

The FA Cup doesn’t kick off for the club until 2022, while you could be holding this trophy aloft before March has even began.

Nobody would be adverse to another Wembley showpiece, not least in a competition where Arsenal have lost their previous three finals, so what do we want to see from the team that could push them one step closer?

1. Intensity Matched Despite the Rotation

Arteta could stump everyone on Tuesday and field a near identical lineup from the Villa win. With three full days of preparation for this match and another three to follow before Leicester, he may see the additional matches as exactly what is needed.

Not for everyone though, surely, as players like Alexandre Lacazette have been seen cramping up which indicates that lack of minutes over the season is taking its toll. It could be a slower process for some.

There will be rotation across the team, and the focus has to be on coming as close to replicating the intensity levels that saw Arsenal blow Villa away for 60 minutes.

It will be a tough game against a Leeds side who play with a different system and attacking approach, which while will cough up new hurdles, is actually even more reason to play high energy football. No team in the division runs more than Leeds do.

While those numbers have done little to aid their standing in the league table, injuries have played their part for Bielsa. Yet it doesn’t matter what team he puts out as the non-negotiables remain the same. Fail to match their energy levels and you already limit your chances of success.

All those on the periphery for Arsenal will have seen the Villa display and understood what is required to be knocking on the first team door. Players like Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Nicolas Pepe have to be looking at the Friday just past realising nothing less will suffice.

Continued…