4 days ago
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football.london reporters pick their Arsenal starting XIs for this weekend's Premier League trip to Leeds
Arsenal are striving to get back to winning ways in the Premier League when they travel to Elland Road to take on Leeds.
Outside of Max Dowman, Mikel Arteta has a full squad at his disposal after confirming that William Saliba, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz are all in contention to start.
The Gunners hammered Leeds 5-0 at the Emirates Stadium back in August but with the title pressure mounting, this game has a very different feeling as the Whites are also much-improved under Daniel Farke.
football.london reporters Tom Canton (chief Arsenal correspondent) and Ryan Taylor select their starting XIs for the trip to Yorkshire.
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Tom Canton
I would love to be able to throw Kai Havertz straight into this line-up after how good he looked in midweek, but I do want to be cautious about how his minutes are managed.
The title could genuinely be closely tied to the German's form in the second half of the campaign. I would swap out Martin Odegaard for Eberechi Eze after a promising display in midweek. Arteta was defensive of his captain, unsurprisingly, in the press conference, but I think for this game I would have the summer signing in from the start.
The team has suffered without Riccardo Calafiori and his return to the team is very welcome at left back. Thankfully both Jurrien Timber and William Saliba also appear good to start the game.
Canton’s Arsenal XI vs Leeds United: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Zubimendi; Rice, Eze; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard
Ryan Taylor
There's plenty for Mikel Arteta to ponder, particularly in attack where Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz are now rivalling Viktor Gyokeres for a starting berth.
But it's important Arteta keeps the crux of his team the same and I think he'll name his strongest possible XI - the one that has featured the most this season.
Providing he is ready, Riccardo Calafiori comes back in at left-back with Jurrien Timber at right-back and William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes at centre-back.
Martin Zubimendi starts at the base of midfield and Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard join him.
Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard come back in on the left and Gyokeres should start through the middle, though if so, he will likely only play an hour.
Gyokeres has been scrutinised but his running power and ability to stretch Leeds' backline will be key to creating space.
Taylor’s Arsenal XI vs Leeds United: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Zubimendi; Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard
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