Key decision: Mikel Arteta has decided that Kai Havertz is fit enough to start for Arsenal against Leeds
Arsenal Football Newsletter
The Gunners make the trip to Elland Road looking to end a three-match winless run that has given their rivals hope in the Premier League title race.
Havertz made his first start in almost a year in midweek when he featured against Kairat in the Champions League, and he registered a goal and an assist inside 15 minutes.
The German was replaced at half-time in what was a pre-planned decision and Arteta has now decided that he is up to speed enough to start in the Premier League.
“Yeah he's ready,” Arteta said on Friday. ”Obviously it's been a long period and now we need to manage that load and the games that we're going to select for him to start.
“But there was no reaction to [the Kairat match]. I think it was super positive, you could see straightaway the impact that he can have in the team. So yeah, he's ready.”
Arteta puts Havertz in midfield ahead of captain Martin Odegaard, with Viktor Gyokeres leading the line.
William Saliba and Jurrien Timber are both fit after missing the match against Kairat with “niggles”.
The likes of David Raya, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Gabriel were rested in midweek and all come back into the starting lineup here.
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Riccardo Calafiori played 45 minutes in the Champions League and could earn his first Premier League minutes since December in Yorkshire off the bench, with Piero Hincapie at left-back.
Max Dowman is currently the only Arsenal player out through injury and it means some first-team players will miss out on the matchday squad.
Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard
Subs: Kepa, White, Calafiori, Mosquera, Odegaard, Eze, Madueke, Martinelli, Jesus
Injured: Dowman
Venue: Elland Road, Leeds
Time and date: 3pm GMT on Saturday January 31, 2026