Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta could have a fitness crisis on his hands as scores of his key players return wearied from international duty.
Arteta will only have the benefit of 72 hours to brief his full squad ahead of Sunday's trip to Elland Road, with numerous players returning having played three times in the space of six days for their respective nations.
Defender Kieran Tierney was instrumental in Scotland's qualification for next summer's European Championships, and after celebrations which went long into the night in Belgrade, he featured twice more for the Tartan Army, away to Slovakia and again in Israel.
Tierney could certainly be one player struggling with some travel fatigue, or may simply be feeling burnt out following a non-stop start to the campaign. The Scot spent much of last season on the sidelines through injury and Arteta will be acutely aware he needs to manage his squad carefully, particularly those with a history of injury.
Nicolas Pepe has been tipped for a recall to the Arsenal starting line-up against Leeds as the Gunners desperately try to shake off the growing sense that they are a passive team in possession.
The Ivorian has played twice in the past week though, once in Ivorian capital Abidjan, and the other in Madagascar. 170 minutes will have sharpened the winger who has spent much of his time for Arsenal this season sat on the bench, but he will also have racked up plenty of hours on long-haul flights over the too.
Arsenal's great new hope Bukayo Saka has not been spared either, featuring three times for England. While it is no doubt a proud moment for the 19-year-old, Arteta will be dismayed that one of his most versatile players has been utilised so heavily, potentially detracting from his effectiveness against Leeds.
The Gunners' most influential player Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was forced to spend the night on Banjul airport's floor after the Gabonese national team were initially denied entry to Gambia ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. 31-year-old Aubameyang played the full 90 minutes the following day as Gabon slumped to defeat, suggesting the striker is not quite at his sharpest after a night in arrivals.
The tiresome international schedule compounds the misery suffered by Arteta this week, with the news that Sead Kolasinac and Mohamed Elneny will both be unavailable for selection at the weekend due to positive coronavirus tests. The pair appear to have contracted the virus while with their international squads, and there are fears further Arsenal players could test positive prior to Sunday.
A depleted and fatigued Arsenal gives Leeds a glorious opportunity to put one of the Premier League's big names to the sword for the first time in 16 years. The Whites came agonisingly close to defeating Manchester City earlier in the season, and were unfortunate not to have done, but Arsenal pose a different, somewhat more manageable challenge.
If important players are not on song, due to a variety of factors, Leeds and their high-intensity approach can exploit the structural weaknesses in Arsenal's game.
