Title chasing Arsenal travel to Leeds as they look to restore their seven point lead at the top of the Premier League before Manchester City visit Tottenham Hotspur on the Sunday.
The Gunners have struggled for form in the league since the turn of the year winning just one of their four games. Two goalless draws with Liverpool and Nottingham Forest and a shock 3-2 defeat to Manchester United has left Arsenal still four points clear but not out of sight.
Leeds have turned a huge corner since their 3-2 loss to Manchester City at the end of November. It looked to be another difficult season for the whites fighting for survival at the bottom of the table but a remarkable improvement in recent results has propelled them six points above the drop.
Daniel Farke's side have lost just once in their last eleven games and are unbeaten in their last five home games which includes a thrilling 3-1 win over World Champions Chelsea and draws against both Liverpool and Manchester United.
Mikel Arteta has a promising record against Leeds United as Arsenal manager. He is yet to suffer any defeat against Leeds during the nine games against them. Only one draw during that time which was a goalless tie in lockdown. Arsenal haven't lost against the whites for twenty-three years which is a fourteen game streak.
The sides faced each other on the second game week of this season which saw Arsenal decimate Leeds 5-0. Viktor Gyokeres scored his first goals for the club and Max Dowman made his Arsenal debut.
Saturday's game should be a different story. Arsenal will be the outright favourites as expected but the route to victory will not be as straight forward as before. Leeds have only lost two games at Elland Road in the league this season. Once to Tottenham Hotspur and again to Aston Villa. Boths games saw Leeds exceed their opponents in expected goals (XG) but just lacked clinical finishing. This just shows how tricky this Leeds side will be.
Interestingly, Leeds have failed so score more than once against Arsenal at Elland Road since 1993, again a fourteen game run. With Riccardo Calafiori, Jurrien Timber, William Saliba and Gabriel all deemed to be fit, the gunners will be back with their strongest defence, the same backline that kept ten consecutive clean sheets earlier in the season.
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TEAM NEWS:
Leeds United: The whites will be without Daniel James, Jaka Bijol and Lukas Nmecha. Gabriel Gudmundsson remains a doubt.
Arsenal: Max Dowman is the only Arsenal player out with a long-term injury. William Saliba and Jurrien Timber were doubts but Mikel Arteta has confirmed their fitness.
PREDICTED LINE UPS:
Leeds United: Darlow, Justin, Rodon, Struijk, Bogle, Aaronson, Ampadu, Gruev, Gudmundsson, Calvert-Lewin, Okafor.
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Rice, Zubimendi, Eze, Trossard, Saka, Gyokeres.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Leeds United - Dominic Calvert-Lewin
What a season Calvert-Lewin is having at Leeds. The forgotten man was signed on a free in the summer and not many people held out much hope for the former England international. After a slow start, he has burst into life. He has accumulated ten goal involvements in just twenty-one appearances in the league this season including goals against Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea. He will certainly be a handful for the Arsenal backline.
Arsenal - Viktor Gyokeres
It's not been an easy season for the Swedish forward but the last few games has seen a change in fortune. He has managed five goals and assists in his last five games in all competitions but is yet to score a goal from open play in the Premier League since November. You just feel like his moment is coming and he will eventually click and start ruthlessly scoring week in week out. He was a nightmare for Leeds in August and it won't be easy to keep him quiet.
MATCH DETAILS:
The match will take place at Elland Road, Leeds.
Kick off is at 15:00 GMT on Saturday 31st January.
The game won't be televised in the UK but highlights will be available on Sky Sports socials after 17:30 GMT.