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Joe Mewis

Arsenal's predicted team to face Leeds United with question mark over Nicolas Pepe

Leeds United head to north London this afternoon, desperate to end their dire record in the capital when they take on Arsenal this afternoon.

Marcelo Bielsa's men head to the Emirates on the back of a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace last weekend and take on a Gunners side that have claimed just one out of their last nine available points.

Leeds sit a point and a place better off than Mikel Arteta's side in the Premier League table and, like Leeds, today's hosts have a number of key injury problems, missing Kieran Tierney and Thomas Partey.

That leaves Arteta with a number of selection dilemmas and our colleagues at football.london have outlined the side they expect him to put out this afternoon.

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Goalkeeper Bernd Leno returns from suspension and is expected to come straight back into the starting line-up. David Luiz is also available after serving a one-match ban, but may have to wait his turn, with Rob Holding and Gabriel Magalhaes the leading candidates at the heart of the defence.

Tierney's absence means that Cedric Soares is set to continue at left-back, despite some recent shaky performances, as that will allow Bukayo Saka to play further forwards.

Dani Ceballos looks likely to partner Granit Xhaka in midfield, given Partey's absence.

Real Madrid loanee Martin Odegaard could be handed a full debut, which would allow former Huddersfield loan man - and the player who's goal against West Brom effectively secured Leeds' promotion - to have a rest ahead of Arsenal's Europa League clash against Benfica later this week.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is expected to turn out on the left, which would see Saka move to the right, with Nicolas Pepe, who was sent off in November's return fixture at Elland Road, dropping to the bench.

The impressive Alexandre Lacazette should again lead the line.

Arsenal predicted XI: Leno; Bellerin, Holding, Gabriel, Cedric; Ceballos, Xhaka; Aubameyang, Odegaard, Saka; Lacazette

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