Match Day Thread Arsenal v Leeds United

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Arsenal v Leeds United
Saturday 23rd August @17:30 | Emirates

Leeds travel to the Emirates at the weekend for a Saturday early evening showdown with Premier League heavyweights Arsenal. Coming off an expected but somewhat unconvincing 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford to kick off their 2025-26 campaign, the Gunners are eager for a more decisive performance.

Leeds, meanwhile, also began their return to the top flight with a 1-0 home win against Everton, a result that marked a positive start to their season. Securing any points at the formidable Emirates would be considered monumental for Daniel Farke's side as they embark on their quest for Premier League survival. However, both camps arrive with their respective injury concerns.

Arsenal's midfield suffers a blow with Kai Havertz sidelined by a knee injury; the club's apparent search for a replacement suggests the issue is more serious than initially hoped. Long-term absentee Gabriel Jesus continues his rehabilitation from an ACL injury sustained in January, with no immediate return expected. Christian Norgaard, who missed the trip to Manchester with a knock, could make the matchday squad this weekend.

As for Leeds, Daniel Farke faces a few selection headaches. Defensive linchpin Ethan Ampadu is a risk after picking up an ankle injury on Monday, though Farke has downplayed its severity, claiming only bruising. Fellow summer recruit Sebastiaan Bornauw's calf problem kept him on the bench against Everton, leaving his starting status for Saturday uncertain. Further concerns linger over new signing Noah Okafor, who reportedly failed his initial Thorp Arch medical on Wednesday.

Specialists gave Leeds the green light to sign him anyway, but there are certainly question marks whether he'll be fit for the weekend. Similarly, fellow newbie Dominic Calvert-Lewin, continues to build fitness after missing pre-season. Jaka Bijol, who missed the win against Everton due to suspension could edge Pascal Struijk out of the starting line-up. Similarly, Farke may decide on a back three of Rodon Struijk and Bijol.

 

Need a lot of luck to get anything from this. They wont be as bad as last week.

 

I read somewhere Ampadu is out till the international break. Big miss if true.

 

He is but expect more injuries this season in pl. Farke also didn’t rule out
Two more offensive players and a rb

 

Leeds United captain Ethan Ampadu will be missing until at least after the upcoming international break after injuring the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his right knee.

 

no words

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what cruel luck this early on

 

You don’t want to lose your captain but We did stock up with midfielders in the summer. There were many who thought amps might not be a starter this season anyway - I wasn’t one of them as I rate him and more importantly so does Farke, but it’s probably our least exposed position. Gruev prob most like for like but Stach and longstaff can both play pivot.

I thought for a tough away game he might have rested tanaka for longstaff anyway. He didn’t trust AO away from home much last year. I’m going gruev stach longstaff as our starters.

I might be tempted to play nmecha ahead of piroe for this one too. I prefer piroe off the bench when the game slows a little.

 

Yeah. Gruev had a great pre season. Give him the start with Stach and Longstaff with him.

Nmecha might be able to win a few free kicks to relive the pressure.

 

Just watched Farke’s presser.

Signings… def after a fullback… would like 1-2 attacking signings…. But said the ‘pressure was off’ a bit now. He talked a bit about a 10 or wingers that can play 10 as being an area he thinks would benefit the squad. So I think that’s a hint.

He was asked about signing injury prone players. His answer was interesting. He basically said:
- yep we take a bit of a risk to get players of quality we wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford
- we have a decent track record of getting injury prone players and keeping them fit. I’m guessing he considers paddy the exception to that rule.

 

So… Struijk or Bijol? Struijk did well on Monday but think there’s a sense that Bijol is first choice.

Or both in a back 3 as some have mooted?

 

I’d expect Bijol to come in but with the captain out does he leave Struijk in to be captain. Also seems harsh when they got a clean sheet last time out.

As others have mentioned I’d put Nmecha in for Piroe. Would also be tempted by Harrison for his pressing abilities.

 

Bijol can also play defensive midfield so is an option to come straight in to replace Ampadu.

 

Not for me. He's not mobile enough.

 

I think he wants Bijol to be his starter but I've a feeling he will sort of hang Struijk out to dry against Arsenal to prove his point and then bring in Bijol for Sheff Wed and Newcastle. That would be the easy way to get Bijol in to the side.

Maybe he will show some big bollocks and just drop Struijk for Arsenal. I'd respect it from a fans point of view but if I were Struijk id be fuming and have a few words to say to him.

 

That's why Farke earns the big bucks

 

We can **** him off and get Nuno in by Christmas when we lose 6 in a row in November into December.

 

Although Struijk did well on Monday, and is a good ball-playing CB, I think there are question marks over him defensively... even Monday he did do one bizarre flying mistimed jump under the ball... he just seems to have occasional rushes of blood (well last time out in the PL they were regular not occasional). Think he's great when you're dominating the ball and looking to start attacks, I believe Bijol was bought for defensive dependabilitiy. I think he starts Saturday.

I think he'll stick with Piroe though

 

More likely they’ll poach Farke given theyre in Europe and we’ll have to go cap in hand to big Sam again