Mikel Arteta has looked to strike a balancing act with his team selection as Arsenal host Leeds United in the FA Cup third round tonight.
The Spaniard will be wary of the effects of a gruelling festive period but has picked a stronger-than-expected side to face a team likely to be playing Premier League football next season as Mesut Ozil, Alexandre Lacazette and Nicolas Pepe all start.
Calum Chambers has been ruled out for up to nine months following knee surgery which means Rob Holding make his first start since November 6, having recovered from his own knee complaint to make the bench against Manchester United.
Sead Kolasinac limped out of that win but is back in the line-up, with Joe Willock on the bench.
Eddie Nketiah has returned from his loan spell at Leeds but will not feature on Monday as he would be ineligible to go out on loan again this season.
Both Hector Bellerin and Gabriel Martinelli faced late fitness tests on hamstring injuries, with the latter passing his. A third hamstring victim, Dani Ceballos, is on the bench.
Confirmed teams
Arsenal XI: Martinez, Luiz, Sokratis, Holding, Nelson, Guendouzi, Xhaka, Kolasinac, Ozil, Lacazette, Pepe
Subs: Leno, Mavropanos, Ceballos, Willock, Saka, Martinelli, John-Jules
Leeds United XI: Meslier, Berardi, Ayling, White, Douglas, Gotts, Klich, Phillips, Harrison, Alioski, Bamford
Subs: Casilla, Cooper, Dallas, Casey, Davis, Stevens, Costa
Predict the result above!
