With everyone finally fit Arsenal ready to return to winning ways

By Danong 

Arsenal are back in action this Saturday afternoon, making the long trip to Elland Road to take on Leeds United.  

After that disappointing 3-2 defeat to Manchester United last weekend, the Gunners responded by edging Kairat Almaty 3-2 in a midweek Champions League clash. Yet the real bounce back will come if they can overcome Leeds, returning to winning ways in the Premier League after failing to secure victory in their last three league games.  

Leeds are one of those clubs Arsenal should be dispatching. Earlier in the season, the Gunners put five past them.

However, this Leeds side turned a corner in early December and are now on a run of just one defeat in ten games. They are determined to sustain that momentum and avoid slipping back into the Championship, which makes them a tricky opponent now. 

Manager Mikel Arteta and his players will therefore need to bring their A‑game if they are to dispatch The Whites, especially at Elland Road.  

Having welcomed Ricardo Calafiori and Kai Havertz back against Kairat, Arteta now has a strong squad to choose from. He has the leverage to field his best possible line‑up, which may look like:  

Raya  

Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori  

Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard  

Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard  

If Calafiori is fit after playing the first half against Kairat on his return from injury, he surely needs to start. There is something special about the way the Italian activates this Arsenal team; as an unorthodox playmaker, he weaponises their attack.  

Equally, it is encouraging to see Gyokeres rediscover his goalscoring mojo. Scoring and assisting on Wednesday night should give him the lift he needs to return to his prolific best. In some sort of dry spell, Arsenal need him to be firing on all cylinders to propel them towards glory, just as was expected when he arrived.  

Meanwhile, Kai Havertz’s season arguably starts now. He both assisted and scored against Kairat, and hopefully that impact was a glimpse of what he can consistently deliver. The German could yet prove to be the lift the North Londoners need to quench their thirst for league success and he may well come off the bench for this game.