We'll look to restore our seven-point cushion at the top of the Premier League table on Saturday (3pm UK) when we travel to an in-form Leeds United.
The Whites have been one of our favourite opponents in recent decades, and we are unbeaten in the last 15 meetings in all competitions, winning the last six - our longest run against the Yorkshiremen. You have to go back 25 years for the last time we tasted defeat at Elland Road - but the current side have thrived there this term.
Daniel Farke’s outfit have tasted defeat just twice on home soil, and no team have suffered fewer losses anywhere since the start of December than last season’s Championship champions. But with us playing before our title rivals take to the field on Sunday, the opportunity is there to increase our lead, and the pressure, on the chasing pack.
Whites’ wonderful winter
As December dawned, Leeds were in the relegation zone with three wins to their name, and Farke was reportedly on the brink of losing his job. However, a change in formation has led to a change of fortunes, and the Whites come into this encounter having lost just one of their last 10 league games, conceding only 13 goals in that time.
A 3-1 win over Chelsea kick-started the run, and they have also beaten Crystal Palace and Fulham at home. A pair of draws were secured against Liverpool last month, while Manchester United also only took a solitary point away from Elland Road, where Leeds are unbeaten in their last five.
Their only loss in the past two months came when they conceded twice in stoppage time at Newcastle United to suffer a 4-3 defeat, but they have shaken off that disappointment to remain unbeaten in the five fixtures since. Monday night saw them draw 1-1 at Everton, as a fifth stalemate in eight matches that keeps them at arm’s length from the drop zone.
What the managers say
Arteta: “When you lose a game, you have a lot of feelings because especially the group of players are so competitive and they seek excellence, and when you don’t reach it, you ask yourself questions and we did that. But I think my role is to bring optimism and reality of where we are.
“Our club has a long, long history and to find a moment when in February we’re in the position that we are is very difficult to find. So we are doing so many things so well, and let’s focus mainly on that. For sure we want to improve, we want to be better in every area, but with that sense of self-confidence and conviction that we are on the right path.” - every word from Mikel’s pre-match press conference
Read more Every word from Arteta's pre-Leeds United presser
Farke: "If you have a chance to win points against teams who are in the top positions, then we go for it. We’ll face the best side in Europe so far. I don't take any encouragement, and I'm far away from underestimating Arsenal's strength or thinking right now they are not in the best possible position.
"I think they will be back to their very best at the weekend, but this doesn't mean that we should shy away or crumble. Even if Arsenal is at their best, we want to make sure that we are competitive."
Team news
Having been rested for our midweek win over Kairat Almaty, Jurrien Timber and William Saliba are available again, which means we have a full squad to select from bar Max Dowman’s ankle injury.
Striker Lucas Nmecha tweaked a hamstring in the warm-up last weekend and is out of this one, as is Jaka Bijol with a similar ailment. Fellow defender Gabriel Gudmundsson is nursing a groin strain, while Jack Harrison joined Fiorentina on loan last week.
There is some good news for Farke though in that Daniel James is back in training having been sidelined since the end of November with his own hamstring issue.
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Talking tactics
Adrian Clarke: Since making the switch from 4-3-3 to 3-5-2 at half-time away to Manchester City in late November, Leeds have shown remarkable improvement. The back three, with defensive players used as wing-backs, provides a solid base, and their organisation since the reshuffle has been excellent.
Leeds are a tall, strong, and aggressive side who like to use their physicality to disrupt opponents’ flow. Farke’s men rank fourth for duels won, interceptions and tackles, and just five top-flight sides regain possession more often inside the final third.
Leeds have netted 12 times from corners or free-kicks, which is second only to us. This is due to Anton Stach consistently providing great deliveries. He is their Declan Rice figure, creating 20 chances from set plays in 2025/26; a tally which is second only to Bruno Fernandes.
Their star man is Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has scored nine goals already. He is brilliant in the air, so we must work hard to stop crosses coming into the box, while any long balls aimed in the frontman’s direction will need to be defended properly as his ability to flick the ball on, or to knock it down for supporting runners, is a big asset.
Facts and stats
We have won our last six league games against Leeds by an aggregate score of 20-5. It’s our longest ever winning run against the Whites.
We have scored 4+ goals in eight different Premier League games against Leeds, beating them 5-0 in August’s reverse fixture. Only against Everton (12) have we done so more in the competition.
Leeds have never won a Premier League home game against the side starting the day top of the table in 14 attempts, including all three against us.
The Whites are unbeaten in their last five Premier League home games, last having a longer run in the same top-flight campaign between March and May 2021.
Bukayo Saka has scored in three of his last four Premier League starts against Leeds, including in each of the last two.
Gabriel Martinelli has had a hand in four goals across his four league games against the Elland Road side (2 goals, 2 assists), netting a brace in December 2021.
Gabriel Jesus has scored three times in his last three league appearances against Leeds.
Read more The stats behind Arteta's 200 wins as manager
Match officials
Stuart Attwell has been appointed to this game, his third Gunners fixture of the season following our 1-1 draw with Manchester City and the penalty shootout win over Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup. You have to go back to March 2023 for the last time we won in 90 minutes under his watch, when we beat the Eagles 4-1 in N5
The Warwickshire official has refereed Leeds once this term, a 2-1 home success over West Ham United. No regularly-used official averages more cards per game than Attwell’s 4.8, while he has awarded five penalties in 14 matches.
Referee: Stuart AttwellAssistants: Constantine Hatzidakis, Craig TaylorFourth official: Gavin WardVAR: Jarred GillettAssistant VAR: Steve Meredith
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Recent visits to Elland Road
You have to go back to October 2022 for the last time we visited Leeds, when we ran out 1-0 victors thanks to a fine goal from Bukayo Saka. However we required a Patrick Bamford penalty miss and VAR overturning another Whites spot-kick plus a Gabriel red card in injury-time to leave with the points.
The season before saw us run out 4-1 victors a week before Christmas thanks to a Gabriel Martinelli brace and strikes from Saka and Emile Smith Rowe, while we were held to a goalless draw on our first visit following Leeds’ initial promotion back to the Premier League after a 16-year absence.
Read more Do you remember these six great wins at Leeds?
Live coverage
With the game not being shown live in the UK, make sure you tune into Live From N5 just before kick-off to hear live commentary provided by Dan Roebuck and Adrian Clarke, who will guide you through all the action.
You can also find out which broadcasters are showing the action live wherever you are in the world.
Read more How to watch Leeds United v Arsenal on TV
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