Arsenal have been forced to seek alternative travel arrangements for trip to Leeds United after their flight was cancelled
17:46, 30 Jan 2026
An aerial view of Emirates Stadium surrounded by fog (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
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An aerial view of Emirates Stadium surrounded by fog (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Arsenal’s flight to Leeds on Friday ahead of their Premier League clash at Elland Road was cancelled due to thick fog, football.london understands. The Gunners will now seek alternative travel ahead of the 3pm kick-off on Saturday afternoon.
Some claims had circulated on social media that the flight taking the squad to the north turned around mid-flight but this is understood to be inaccurate. This is the first time Arsenal will play at Elland Road since 2022.
A sole Bukayo Saka goal was enough to secure all three points but Mikel Arteta’s team had to come through a missed Patrick Bamford penalty and an overturned red card decision for Gabriel Magalhaes. It was a big result in a surprise title challenge in the 2022/23 campaign.
More than three years on, Arsenal go to Leeds looking to recover their Premier League form. Beaten by Manchester United last weekend, the gap at the top of the Premier League table has been reduced to just four points.
Arsenal play before their title rivals, Manchester City and Aston Villa, and can both extend the lead to seven points while also piling on the pressure to the chasing pack. Daniel Farke’s side are only behind Arsenal and Chelsea in terms of goals from set-pieces this season and presuming the fog does not take over Elland Road too on Saturday, Arteta has already spoken on a plan to mitigate the threat.
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“Well, first of all, understanding what they do,” he said. “Conceding very little, that's the best way for sure. And if we do concede, it's just to defend with your lives and good organisation to try to prevent that happening.”
He also confirmed both William Saliba and Jurrien Timber were expected to make the squad having recovered from some small issues which meant they were absent against Kairat Almaty.