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Football London
Football London
Sport
Josh Challies

Leeds United predicted XI vs Arsenal as Marcelo Bielsa faces midfield decision

Leeds United travel to face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday knowing that Mikel Arteta's side may be low on confidence following back-to-back Premier League defeats.

Those losses have halted the Gunners' fine rhythm since Boxing Day and risk derailing the fightback in the campaign following a woeful start to the season.

Leeds will fancy themselves to secure a first win against Arsenal since 2003, having won three of their last four in the league.

Marcelo Bielsa's side have quickly settled into the Premier League since their Championship-winning campaign last term and, ahead of the match, sit above Arsenal in the standings.

However, as detailed by our sister site Leeds Live, Bielsa may have a dilemma for the game as England international Kalvin Phillips faces a late fitness test and could miss out.

As a result, the Argentine may need to shuffle his deck in midfield - with Pascal Struijk moving into midfield from defence.

That may result in Stuart Dallas filling in at right-back, with Luke Ayling shifting across from a full-back role into the centre of defence to fill the void left by Struijk's advance further forward.

With Rodrigo Moreno and Pablo Hernandez unavailable, Jamie Shackleton, who has not featured much this season, could be in-line for a rare opportunity.

In attack, Leeds are set to continue with the trio of Raphinha, Jack Harrison and Patrick Bamford, all of whom enter the game in good form of late.

Predicted Leeds United XI: Meslier; Dallas, Ayling, Cooper, Alioski; Struijk; Shackleton, Klich, Raphinha, Harrison; Bamford

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