With or without Eberechi Eze pulling the creative strings, Arsenal host newly-promoted Leeds United on Saturday evening, in their opening home game of the new Premier League campaign.
Both Mikel Arteta and Daniel Farke masterminded 1-0 victories last time out, as the Gunners claimed a smash-and-grab victory at Manchester United before the Whites benefitted from a contentious handball call to edge out Everton.
Match preview
Where Arsenal's open-play sequences failed, their set-piece situations proved to be their salvation; a familiar tale from the 2024-25 season and one that rang incredibly true for Arteta at Old Trafford on the opening Premier League weekend.
Riccardo Calafiori capitalised on some questionable goalkeeping from Man United number two Altay Bayindir to make the difference, although Gooners will be under no illusions that their charges were fortunate to leave with maximum spoils, as a Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha-reinforced Man United huffed and puffed throughout.
However, thanks to the Red Devils' wasteful finishing and customary heroics from David Raya, Arsenal beat Man United 1-0 away from home for the sixth time in the Premier League era, and the Gunners' unbeaten run against the traditional 'Big Six' in the top flight now stands at a staggering 22 matches.
Picking up from where they left off in 2024-25, the silver medallists are on a three-game winning run in the Premier League, although all of those victories have only been by a solitary goal; furthermore, their last top-flight home win by two goals or more came over six months ago in the 5-1 thumping of Manchester City.
Nevertheless, even a slender success will see Arsenal etch their name into a new page of the record books; the Gunners are unbeaten in 42 straight Premier League home games against newly-promoted sides, one short of the all-time best set by Chelsea from 2001 to 2015.
Lukas Nmecha of Leeds United scores a goal and celebrates
Calafiori's winner for Arsenal was one of a few officiating decisions to be scrutinised on the opening weekend - some felt that Bayindir was being illegally impeded by William Saliba - and controversy also reared its ugly head when Leeds hosted Everton on their Premier League homecoming.
Lukas Nmecha's ice-cool penalty settled the tie after James Tarkowski was penalised for handball, as the Everton defender had previously blocked a goal-bound attempt with his arm, albeit an arm that was by his side rather than in an unnatural position.
The fact that Tarkowski appeared to lean towards the direction of the ball seemingly worked against him, but regardless, the statistics told the story of a Leeds side who were worthy winners against their passive visitors as they prevailed in a Premier League game for the first time in over two years.
The shock of all shocks in North London this weekend would see Leeds win their opening two top-flight matches of a season for the first time since 2002, but visits to the capital are often unfruitful; they have lost their last seven Premier League matches played in London.
Furthermore, Arsenal are on a six-game winning sequence against the Whites in all tournaments and have avoided defeat in each of their last 14 scraps with their visitors, whose last triumph in this battle came during the Highbury days in 2003.
Arsenal Premier League form:
Leeds United Premier League form:
Team News
Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze celebrates on March 29, 2025
Mere hours after it emerged that Kai Havertz had suffered a new knee injury - the severity of which is unclear - Arsenal beat Tottenham once again, this time off the pitch as they hijacked their rivals' move for Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze.
All parties have agreed the terms of the deal, but it will surely be too soon for the England international to make his debut for his dream club on Saturday, so Gabriel Martinelli's spot on the left-hand side of the attack is safe for the time being.
However, Ben White and Christian Norgaard will both need late fitness tests due to knocks - the latter also missed the win over Man United - while Gabriel Jesus (ACL) is still a few months away from a complete recovery.
On Leeds' end, Farke suffered a slight scare when Ethan Ampadu was withdrawn with an ankle problem against Everton, but the visiting boss is confident that the former Chelsea product is only nursing a bruise.
Ampadu should therefore be given the green light to take his place at the base of the midfield, meaning that the Whites could have a fully-fit squad available; Jaka Bijol is back from suspension and Sebastiaan Bornauw was on the bench against Everton following a calf issue.
There was no emotional debut for Dominic Calvert-Lewin against his former club on Monday, and even if the Englishman is considered for Saturday's game, goalscorer Nmecha and Joel Piroe are surely above him in the pecking order.
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli
Leeds United possible starting lineup:
Perri; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Gudmundsson; Stach, Ampadu, Tanaka; Gnonto, Nmecha, Harrison
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We say: Arsenal 2-0 Leeds United
Rather than struggle to fashion any sort of chances against Man United, Arsenal enjoyed several promising forays forward, only for the final pass to let them down on too many occasions.
However, the Gunners should click into gear back on their own turf, where they ought to break Leeds' resistance early and subsequently capitalise on defensive gaps opening up when Farke's men go in search of a response.
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