Leeds United travel to north London this afternoon to take on league leaders Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. The Whites have their work cut out if they’re to leave the capital with anything to show for their efforts, but three points could be enough to see them move five points clear of the relegation zone.
Ahead of the game, Leeds Live caught up with Football.London’s Tom Canton to get the inside track on Mikel Arteta’s side.
Arsenal are eight points clear at the top of the Premier League with just 10 games left to play. Are fans starting to feel confident that they can win the title this year or are they still looking over their shoulders?
It is a genuine split. You have the ones that refuse to even acknowledge we're in the race and taking it a game at a time and others who are fully committed and convinced it will be ours. I sympathize with those more cagey, even though I claim to be a serious optimist. I think Arsenal have a great chance and certainly have the quality to win every game they're involved in.
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How do you think Arsenal will cope as the end of the season approaches and the pressure begins to increase?
I think the recent injury to William Saliba will provide an immediate test, made worse by Takehiro Tomiyasu's season-ending surgery meaning Ben White must remain at right-back (Third choice Cedric Soares left on loan in January). Rob Holding will come in, at least in the short term, and has performed well in high pressure moments including two FA Cup finals. Arsenal have players like Jorginho, Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko to bring the experience of winning the biggest honours and will be grounding the squad for sure.
Do you think Arsenal will be wary of Leeds given the fright they received at Elland Road in October?
Yes of course but at the same time they'll appreciate the run of four games and four wins last month which earned Arteta MOTM and Saka POTM awards. They've been scoring a lot but also allowing cheap goals to be conceded which should encourage Leeds. It was a nervous game at Elland Road and I remember being there and not particularly enjoying it but getting three points will be the blinkered approach the Gunners have tomorrow.
What do you think Arsenal’s biggest weakness is? Where can Leeds get at the Gunners?
The biggest weakness is by far their left flank. When Oleksandr Zinchenko advances it leaves space in behind that Gabriel Magalhaes is designated to cover, effectively playing one and a half roles. He's done this brilliantly but he cannot do it all, all the time and it does leave gaps. This will be where the Gunners are gettable, plus from set pieces which have seen plenty of goals conceded from this season.
Arsenal seem to have picked up a few knocks over the international break, how do you expect them to line-up this weekend?
As mentioned Saliba and Tomiyasu are out. Partey missed the last game with Ghana but he trained and should be fit to play. The team effectively picks itself bar the centre-forward but with Arteta confirming Gabriel Jesus is nearly 100% there's a real chance he could start. Canton's XI: Ramsdale, White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus
How do you see the game going?
I see it being every similar to Crystal Palace two weeks ago. Arsenal dominant and creating plenty of chances but Leeds having chances on the break and certainly leaving the crowd rather nervy at set pieces. If the Gunners score early though, it might open the floodgates and leave it being a long afternoon for Javi Gracia.
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