football.london assesses the changes Mikel Arteta could make to his Arsenal starting XI when Leeds visit the Emirates Stadium this Saturday in the Premier League
Arsenal
Arsenal return to Premier League action this weekend against Leeds(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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Arsenal will finally return to action on Saturday on the back of the international break when Leeds visit the Emirates Stadium in what's sure to be an early-season firecracker.
Mikel Arteta's champions were stung last time out at Brighton when they fell to a 3-0 defeat at the Amex, and it's highly likely changes will be in the offing for the Gunners. That's because two of the players who started on the south coast, Kai Havertz and Christos Tzolis, picked up hamstring injuries during the international break.
The expectation is that both will miss the contest after returning to north London for their rehab, but other positions are also up for debate. David Raya looks sure to start in goal while there is a real dilemma for Arteta - a good one, it must be said - at right-back.
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Jurrien Timber mustered 60 minutes at Brighton and his condition has been managed while he's been away with Holland. While that's positive, he is still not 100 per cent fit, so there's a chance Ben White could come back in if he's ready to compete again following his groin injury having been pictured in training over the break.
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At centre-back, Ezri Konsa should be fine even though England decided he would not be available to face Czechia this evening, and if all goes to plan, he will partner Gabriel Magalhaes.
Should Konsa not be ready, Cristhian Mosquera could well slot in alongside Gabriel at the heart of Arteta's backline. At left-back, Riccardo Calafiori should retain his spot in the team after netting his first goal for Italy against Turkey.
The midfield is slightly trickier. Declan Rice is well rested and should start but Bruno Guimaraes has done a lot of travelling in the past few weeks with Brazil and he was also dismal at Brighton.
Bruno Guimaraes
Bruno Guimaraes netted for Brazil vs Australia but struggled for Arsenal at Brighton before the break(Image: Getty Images)
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For that reason, Myles Lewis-Skelly could well come in, while there could also be a big chance for his compatriot Eberechi Eze out wide left. Eze is yet to start in the Premier League this season but Tzolis' injury means he's now first-choice in that department.
Martin Odegaard will keep his spot as the team's creative hub with Bukayo Saka on the right flank. In attack, Viktor Gyokeres will get his big chance as he looks set to start his first Premier League matches of the season.
The Swede is in inspired form having netted in all four of his country's Nations League games over the international break. Mikel Merino might get some minutes in the second half as Gyokeres' deputy, but the 28-year-old is ready to get off the mark for Arsenal following a slow start to the season at club level.
Arsenal host Leeds in the early kick-off on Saturday, with the return of Premier League football being broadcast live on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max.