Arsenal vs Leeds Utd preview: Prediction, team news & lineups

Arsenal’s ascent towards the Premier League title begins on Saturday afternoon as they host relegation-threatened Leeds United. 

The Gunners rattled off six straight domestic victories before the international break to leave them eight points clear at the top of the table with ten games remaining. Man City have played a game less, however, and they could reduce the deficit to five before Arsenal kick-off on Saturday should they overcome Liverpool at the Etihad.

While the break may have disrupted Arsenal’s momentum, it did offer some respite for supporters ahead of what’s poised to be a nerve-jangling conclusion to the season.

The hosts take on a Leeds side hoping to retain their Premier League status, and they’ve made a bright start to life under Javi Gracia. They secured a huge away win at Wolves just before the break, but they have been hit by an injury bug which could compromise their survival bid.

Arsenal vs Leeds Utd preview: Prediction, team news & lineups

Here’s our preview of Arsenal’s Premier League clash against Leeds on Saturday.

How to watch Arsenal vs Leeds on TV

When is kick-off? Saturday 1 April

What time is kick-off? 15:00 (BST)

Where is it played? Emirates Stadium

TV channel/live stream? N/A (UK), USA Network (US), fuboTV (Canada)

Referee? Darren England

Arsenal team news

Arsenal escaped the international break unscathed, but there are doubts over William Saliba and Thomas Partey’s fitness for Saturday’s game. The latter is more likely to play, with Rob Holding on alert should Saliba miss out again.

Gabriel Jesus is edging closer to full fitness, but Leandro Trossard deserves to retain his place in the front three with Eddie Nketiah still absent.

Takehiro Tomiyasu’s injury means Arteta will be reliant on Ben White at right-back for the remainder of the season.

Leeds team news

Wilfried Gnonto and Max Wober are both doubts after picking up injuries on international duty. Neither is expected to be out for a long time, but they’re unlikely to start for the visitors at the Emirates.

Gracia will also be without star midfielder Tyler Adams, who is poised to be sidelined for a prolonged period after undergoing surgery on a hamstring injury.

Adams has joined Stuart Dallas and Adam Forshaw on the long-term injury list.

Arsenal vs Leeds predicted lineups

Arsenal: Ramsdale; White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli.

Leeds: Meslier; Ayling, Koch, Struijk, Firpo; McKennie, Roca; Harrison, Aaronson, Sinisterra; Bamford

Arsenal’s recent form

Arsenal 4-1 Crystal Palace (19/03) – Premier League

Arsenal 1-1 (3-5p) Sporting CP (16/03) – Europa League

Fulham 0-3 Arsenal (12/03) – Premier League

Sporting CP 2-2 Arsenal (09/03) – Europa League

Arsenal 3-2 Bournemouth (04/03) – Premier League

Leeds’ recent form

Wolves 2-4 Leeds (18/03) – Premier League

Leeds 2-2 Brighton (11/03) – Premier League

Chelsea 1-0 Leeds (04/03) – Premier League

Fulham 2-0 Leeds (28/02) – FA Cup

Leeds 1-0 Southampton (25/02) – Premier League

Prediction

While Arsenal will be without the likes of Saliba, Nketiah, and Tomiyasu on Saturday, Leeds will likely be without several key stars on Saturday. The absences of Gnonto and Adams are mightily beneficial for the hosts.

Nevertheless, the visitors, given their current situation, won’t roll over and they gave the Gunners one of their toughest games of the season in the reverse fixture. Arsenal were incredibly lucky to walk away with a 1-0 win at Elland Road.

Leeds’ high-octane style could perhaps catch the Gunners cold this weekend, but I don’t envisage the visitors’ defence being able to resist the hosts purring attack. Thus, I fancy goals at both ends on Saturday with Arsenal prevailing.

Prediction: Arsenal 3-1 Leeds