Arsenal faces Leeds United at the Emirates, aiming to continue their strong home record against promoted teams. Both sides secured narrow wins in their opening matches. Arsenal’s set-piece prowess and defensive solidity were key in their victory over Manchester United, while Leeds edged past Everton in a controversial tie. Team news sees Arsenal potentially missing key players due to injury, while Leeds also has injury concerns. Expect Arsenal to secure a win, leveraging their home advantage and superior quality.
Arsenal welcomes Leeds United to the Emirates Stadium for an intriguing Premier League encounter. Both teams enter the match buoyed by narrow victories in their opening games, setting the stage for a potentially tight affair. Mikel Arteta's Arsenal secured a hard-fought 1-0 win away at Manchester United, while Daniel Farke's Leeds United edged out Everton with a contentious 1-0 victory at Elland Road.
Arsenal's victory at Old Trafford highlighted their resilience and effectiveness from set-pieces, a trait that proved crucial throughout the previous season. Riccardo Calafiori capitalized on an error from Manchester United's goalkeeper to score the decisive goal. Despite the win, Arsenal fans acknowledged that their team had to withstand considerable pressure, particularly from a strengthened United attack featuring Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.
Goalkeeper David Raya's standout performance ensured Arsenal secured their sixth Premier League away win against Manchester United, extending their unbeaten run against the 'Big Six' to an impressive 22 matches. Building on their form from last season, the Gunners have now won three consecutive league games, albeit all by a single-goal margin. Their last home league victory by more than one goal dates back six months, when they thrashed Manchester City 5-1.
A win against Leeds could see Arsenal edge closer to a historic milestone. They are currently unbeaten in 42 consecutive Premier League home games against promoted clubs, just one short of Chelsea's record set between 2001 and 2015.
In team news, Arsenal has reportedly finalized a deal for Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze, beating Tottenham Hotspur to his signature. However, Eze is unlikely to feature in this game, leaving Gabriel Martinelli to continue on the left flank. Ben White and Christian Norgaard are both doubtful due to knocks, while Gabriel Jesus remains sidelined with an ACL injury.
Leeds United's return to the Premier League was also marked by controversy, with their winning goal against Everton coming from a penalty awarded for a handball. Lukas Nmecha calmly converted the spot-kick after James Tarkowski was adjudged to have handled the ball. Despite the contentious decision, Leeds' performance merited the victory, ending a two-year wait for a top-flight win.
A surprise victory in North London would see Leeds win their opening two Premier League games for the first time since 2002. However, history is against them, as they have lost their last seven league games in London. Arsenal, on the other hand, boasts a six-match winning streak against Leeds in all competitions and are unbeaten in their last 14 meetings. Leeds' last victory in this fixture was in 2003 at Highbury.
Leeds United will be without Ethan Ampadu due to an MCL injury, sidelining him until after the international break. Ilia Gruev is expected to replace him in midfield. Jaka Bijol returns from suspension, and Sebastiaan Bornauw is available after recovering from a calf problem. Noah Okafor, recently signed from AC Milan, could make his debut, adding competition for Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Arsenal's struggles to create clear-cut chances from open play against Manchester United highlighted their need to improve their final pass. They will be keen to address this issue against Leeds, and they should have the quality to break down the newly-promoted side's defense.
Prediction: Expect Arsenal to secure a narrow victory, with a likely scoreline of 2-0. The Gunners' solid defense and attacking quality should see them through, but Leeds will provide a stern test.