Leeds United take on Arsenal in the Premier League this weekend in their first away game of the season.
In their opening Premier League fixture, Leeds United beat Everton 1-0 at Elland Road. New signing Lukas Nmecha scored a late penalty to get the Whites off to a winning start, whilst next opponent Arsenal also made a winning start in the new season.
Mikel Arteta’s side beat Manchester United 1-0 away from home and will return to the Emirates Stadium to face promoted Leeds United, and they’ll expect to get a first win of the home season too.
Gunners marquee signing Viktor Gyokeres will also be expected to get on the scoresheet sooner or later, and he might view a game against Leeds United as the perfect opportunity to do so.
Here are three predictions for a Leeds United game against Arsenal on Saturday…
Daniel Farke, Leeds United manager.
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Leeds United could go with a different formation vs Arsenal
Given what is a tough first away game of the season, Daniel Farke may set up more defensively than we’ve probably ever seen him set up as Leeds United manager. There is a strong possibility that Leeds line up with a back-five with a central three of Joe Rodon, Jaka Bijol, and Pascal Struijk.
For Bijol, it would be a tough but memorable debut after the Slovenian was suspended for the game against Everton. Then there will be Jayden Bogle and Gabriel Gudmundsson playing as wing-backs, looking to cause Arsenal some headaches on the day.
It will certainly be interesting to see how Leeds would perform in such formation, and how they could perform on the counter-attack with definite pace in the likes of Dan James and Wilfried Gnonto.
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Viktor Gyokeres could struggle vs new-look Leeds United defence
For Gyokeres, the wait for a first goal could become very nervy. Having been so prolific with Sporting and having arrived for such a big transfer fee, getting that first goal and getting underway will do himself the world of confidence and will be a huge sigh of relief for manager Mikel Arteta.
But going up against the Swede this season, many teams might line up defensively, like Leeds will probably do on Saturday. Gyokeres, likely playing as a lone striker but going up against three strong centre-backs in Struijk, Rodon, and Bijol, could see the former Coventry City man almost drowned out of the game.
If Leeds United can silence the big striker, then Farke’s side will have a great chance of nicking the win themselves or taking what will be a very impressive point still.
Manchester United v Arsenal - Premier League
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Huge chance for one Leeds United player after Ethan Ampadu injury
Going into this weekend’s game, it has been revealed that Ethan Ampadu has picked up an injury and will be sidelined for several weeks yet. It’s a real blow for Leeds United to lose their captain and one of their key midfield players, but thankfully for Farke there are a couple of solid options to call upon.
Summer signing Sean Longstaff could slot straight into the midfield, which could prompt a shuffle with Anton Stach potentially playing as the more advanced of the midfielders. Meanwhile, it could be Ilia Gruev that comes in to the starting XI.
Leeds United fans have had mixed feelings about Gruev in the past and so coming in for his first start of the season against Arsenal would be a huge ask. But if the Bulgarian can impress and hold his own, then he may well be one of the starting holding midfielders until Ampadu returns.
For either him or Longstaff, it will be a huge chance to impress and earn a place in the lineup going forward.