Pre-Match Report

Preview: Leeds United v Arsenal

Elland Road

We head to Yorkshire on Sunday looking to win nine out of our first 10 league games for the first time in the top-flight against a Leeds side struggling to find form.

Elland Road has been a happy hunting ground for us in recent times, winning five times and drawing twice in seven meetings in all competitions since our last defeat back in November 2000, however, the Whites are unbeaten on their own patch this term.

But after racking up a sixth straight win in all competitions in midweek in Bodo/Glimt, we're heading north full of confidence as we aim to remain top of the table.

Whites’ bright start extinguished

Leeds United huddle before a game

Jesse Marsch’s side headed into this matchweek in 14th position, having taken eight of their nine points from home matches. Their biggest result of the campaign so far saw them dismantle Chelsea 3-0 back in August, but that was their last league victory - five games ago.

That result saw their tally stand at seven points from three games, but they’ve taken just two more since, the last of which was a dogged goalless draw against Aston Villa at the start of this month.

That was followed last weekend by allowing a one-goal lead slip to lose 2-1 against Crystal Palace and undo their positive start, but Marsch will be hoping a fit-again Patrick Bamford and the impressive start Brenden Aaronson has made will help turn their fortunes around.

What the managers say

Jesse Marsch

Marsch on us: "He’s [Arteta] the most underrated manager in the league. What an incredible job. The team is complex, stable, exciting to watch… amazing job. It’s taken time obviously and he took some heat at the start.

"But they’re seeing the fruits of their labour now. We are confident at Elland Road that we can play how we want but Arsenal are very good. We know we have to be at our best against such an opponent."

Arteta on Leeds: "With Jesse and the teams that they have already played, it is very clear what he wants to do - be a really intense team, a really dynamic team and a really good team when there are spaces to attack.

"There’s some similarities [to Bielsa’s team] but every coach has his own book, but what Jesse has done over the time he has been there is really impressive." - read everything from Arteta's pre-match press conference

Team news

Gabriel Jesus goes down injured against Liverpool

Mikel Arteta has admitted that Gabriel Jesus is a doubt for this game after feeling some discomfort following last weekend's victory against Liverpool.

Oleksandr Zinchenko is also a doubt for this one after sitting out that match, while Emile Smith Rowe (groin) and Mohamed Elneny (hamstring) will definitely be missing.

Marsch is hopeful that Junior Firpo could be fit after missing the season so far with a knee injury, but Adam Foreshaw is out after ankle surgery.

Leo Hjelde is recovering from appendicitis and Stuart Dallas is rehabbing a fractured kneecap, but Luis Sinisterra will return from suspension after being red-carded against Aston Villa.

Facts and stats

Gabriel Martinelli celebrates against Liverpool

We have won five of our last six league games against Leeds (D1), including each of the last three in a row. Only once have we beaten the Whites in four consecutive league games, doing so between November 1936 and April 1938.

We have kept three clean sheets in our four Premier League away games this season, as many as we had in our previous 14 on the road. We have won 10 of their last 15 away league games (L5), starting with a 4-1 win at Leeds last December.

We have scored three goals in each of our last three Premier League games, last doing so in more consecutively between August-September 2004 (a run of five).

Only twice have Leeds remained unbeaten in their first five at home in a single Premier League campaign, doing so in 1992/93 and 2001/02.

Gabriel Martinelli has started each of our last 10 Premier League games, his longest run of consecutive starts in the competition. The Brazilian has been involved in eight goals in these 10 games (5 goals, 3 assists).

Match officials

Chris Kavanagh

Chris Kavanagh takes charge of one of our matches for the first time this season, with his last Arsenal appointment coming when we beat Leeds 2-1 at Emirates Stadium in May when he dismissed Luke Ayling.

We have won seven of the 14 games he has overseen, but just one of those has come away from home from seven attempts.

  • Referee: Chris Kavanagh
  • Assistant Referee 1: Dan Cook
  • Assistant Referee 2: Daniel Robathan
  • Fourth Official: Michael Oliver
  • VAR: Paul Tierney
  • Additional VAR: Wade Smith

Previous trips to Elland Road

Last season’s visit saw us run out 4-1 victors a week before Christmas thanks to a Gabriel Martinelli brace and strikes from Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe, while we were held to a goalless draw on our visit return following Leeds’ promotion back to the Premier League.

During their 16-year absence from the top-flight, we visited once and ran out 3-1 victors in an FA Cup third replay in 2010/11, while we recorded three successive 4-1 wins between September 2002 and January 2004.

Watch much more classic action from previous trips to Elland Road in our playlist

Breakdown Live

Breakdown Live

With no live UK coverage of this game, the best place to catch all the action is right here on Arsenal.com and the official app, via our Breakdown Live show.

Log on from 1pm for all the vital pre-match buildup, with a host of Gooners joining Nick Bright and Jeremie Aliadiere at Emirates Stadium to watch the action unfold.

As well as analysis of the game before kick-off, Frimmy will be at Elland Road chatting to some of the supporters heading to the away end.

From 2pm, live commentary will be provided, and you can watch the reactions of our studio guests as they watch it all unfold!