4 bold predictions for Arsenal vs Leeds that could leave me with egg on my face

Arsenal face Leeds United at home in the Premier League, so what better time to get bold?

It's been a long break, and fans have missed football ever so much. A few years ago, losing before the international break would leave Arsenal fans dreading the return, but there's something about this team of champions that makes me more excited than ever to see them back in action.

Bukayo Saka will silence his critics

Bukayo Saka is always going to have critics. He could breathe through his nose, and people would question why he didn't breathe through his mouth.

He's not out of form, not in the slightest. Yes, he was bad against Brighton but, come on, who was good in that game?

Saka has a respectable record against Leeds, with three goals in his last seven matches against them. His last two goals against Leeds came when he had a fairly low xG (expected goals), too: 0.08 and 0.09 respectively.

Some players just show up against certain teams, and I get the feeling we'll be having a very different conversation about Bukayo Saka after tomorrow's game.

We'll get even more confused about Viktor Gyokeres

Tomorrow is a game that Viktor Gyokeres should score in, but he won't. Football doesn't work like that.

Gyokeres is in impeccable form for Sweden, but that won't carry over straight away into the Premier League. I don't think all hope is lost, but I get the feeling Arsenal fans are getting their hopes up a little too much because of his international form.

What Gyokeres needs more than a goal is a good game. If he can improve his touch, and make his off-the-ball movement count against Leeds, that's an immediate improvement.

Of course, those hidden improvements won't steal the headlines, and fans will get even more confused about why he can't carry his goal-scoring form over from Swedish duty - the early answer to that is he's not expected to score as many goals in this Arsenal team. We'll see a personification of that tomorrow, I fear.

Leeds will score a set piece against Arsenal

Arsenal made quite a name for themselves by scoring from set pieces last season, which is ironic considering they cannot get a word in edgewise from set pieces this season.

One team who has not struggled with set pieces this season is Leeds. Across their five Premier League games this season, they have produced an impressive 2.97 xG (expected goals) from set pieces.

It hasn't been their primary focus in every game, but against Brighton, they produced an incredible 2.03 set-piece xG, and against Crystal Palace more recently, it was 0.70.

While scoring from set pieces is apparently a crime and a threat to the sanctity of football in 2026, I get the funny feeling Leeds will score a set piece against Arsenal tomorrow. Call it a gut feeling, or whatever you want, but don't say I didn't tell you so.

Arsenal finally put the L back in eeds

Leeds have started the season incredibly. Five games in, and they've not lost a single game. That is more than what could be said for Arsenal, despite the Gunners maintaining a higher position than this week's visitors.

That said, Leeds won't make it to six without a loss. This is their hardest fixture of the season, without a doubt - facing the champions away from home has to be, right?

Worse yet, they are facing the champions who have a point to prove. It won't be easy for the Gunners, but Arsenal simply have to win this game. They've gotten pretty good at winning the games they need to.

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