Leeds vs Arsenal Premier League preview: How to watch, lineups, Auba return & prediction

There is no time to waste for Arsenal as they are back in Premier League action on Saturday when they travel to Elland Road to face Leeds United. Here is the match preview.

Typical, isn’t it? As soon as Arsenal secure their best win of the season we barely get a moment to savour it. Well, it’s actually exactly what this team needs.

Not only beating West Ham but doing so in the manner they did was just about the perfect performance and result. There was a clean sheet to savour, some divine individual displays and a spot in the top four to look at for the first time in ages.

Well aware that fixture postponements around the division have helped Arsenal in that regard, it’s nevertheless fantastic to see from a visual sense and will give the players the confidence boost they need to return straight back into action on the weekend.

Leeds vs Arsenal Premier League preview: Will Aubameyang return to Arteta’s squad following 2-0 win over West Ham?

There is no time to bask in the glory of this win. As soon as the final whistle blew all attentions turned to Yorkshire, as having got themselves into the Champions League places it’s now all about consolidating that.

It’s desperately worrying to see so many Premier League matches called off due to the rising number of COVID cases, but there is no other way. The turnover time between fixtures is slim and supporters might have to prepare for similarly late announcements for this match too. It’s sadly the world we all live in.

Should all go ahead well and safely, then Arsenal will be resounding favourites to head back down south with the three points in the bag.

Following on from a roaring season last term that dipped towards the end, Leeds find themselves just five points clear of the drop with the teams below them having matches in hand, and are just coming off the back of a 7-0 obliteration away at Man City.

They’re also decimated by injuries. Marcelo Bielsa has had zero luck in that regard.

If there was ever a time for three points at Elland Road then it’s on Saturday. But we know Arsenal love blowing a presentable opportunity, don’t we? Either way, it should be a brilliant game.

How to Watch on TV

When Is Kick Off? Saturday 18 December
What Time Is Kick Off? 17:30 (GMT)
Where Is it Played? Elland Road
TV Channel/Live Stream? Sky Sports (UK) fuboTV (USA)
Referee? Andre Marriner

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Arsenal Team News vs Leeds United – When will Aubameyang be Back?

Arteta has remained tight lipped on the future of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who was once again exempt from the matchday squad in the win over West Ham.

It’s been said that he will have the chance to fight for his place on Saturday, although that was quashed by Arteta in his pre-match press conference.

Gabriel Martinelli was a slight concern as he hobbled off in the 2-0 win, despite his manager’s hilarious best efforts to force him back on the pitch mid-injury. However, it merely looked like a touch of cramp and he got through his post-match duties without so much as a limp.

The main aspect of team selection for Arsenal will be on fitness and rotation. There are players who’ve started many games back-to-front over a short period of time and at some point there will need to be some involvement for the fringe group.

But where? Sambi Lokonga will be keen for minutes, as will the centre-backs, so a verdict will have to be made once it’s seen how the players fare in the training leading up to Saturday.

As mentioned, Leeds are in a nightmare situation. Kalvin Phillips, Patrick Bamford and Liam Cooper are all missing with hamstring problems, Rodrigo is out with a heel issue, Pascal Struijk suffered a foot injury, while Jamie Shackleton and Daniel James were both casualties from Elland Road.

It’s an injury list you can’t help but have incredible sympathy for. However, Robin Koch is back for the Yorkshire side. That’s something.

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Arsenal Predicted Lineup to Face Leeds United – Will Arteta Go Unchanged?

Leeds: Meslier; Drameh, Ayling, Llorente, Firpo; Koch, Forshaw, Dallas, Raphinha, Harrison; Roberts

Arsenal: Ramsdale; Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey, Xhaka, Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Lacazette

Leeds vs Arsenal Score Prediction

It’s tough to look past the injuries that are plaguing Leeds, and, y’know, the fact they’ve just come off the back of a hideous defeat in Manchester. The fact it was only seven is remarkable.

Meanwhile, Arsenal are a top four team! Sort of, not really, but technically yes.

Memories of last season’s Nicolas Pepe headbutt fiasco, where the side somehow clung on for a point despite Leeds hitting the post 17 times and Bernd Leno making equal that in saves, will spring to mind but this is two totally different teams.

Bielsa’s side are injury ravaged and confidence banished. They are a shadow of their former selves and each week their bench is made up of academy kids with next to no top-flight experience. With the trajectories of both teams, this is a game that Arsenal should walk.

Then again, Arsenal love to hand out gifts. Everton are an atrocious side, Manchester United were, and both got the win they needed. How kind. Coming off a drubbing, it would be the epitome of Arsenal if were they to somehow contrive to lose this match.

It’s a good thing they won’t then, right? Let’s get sucked into the hype with this one even if it’s extremely foolish to ignore the youthful inconsistency of this team.

Score Prediction: Leeds 1-3 Arsenal