football.london assesses the changes Mikel Arteta could make to Arsenal’s starting XI when Leeds visit the Emirates Stadium this Saturday in the Premier League.
Arsenal will finally get their start to the season fired up after the international break on Saturday when Leeds visit the Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Arteta’s champions were beaten 3-0 at the Amex in Brighton last time out and there are likely to be changes for the Gunners. That’s because two of the south coast starters, Kai Havertz and Christos Tzolis, picked up hamstring injuries during the international break.
The expectation is that both will miss the competition after returning to north London to rehabilitate, but other positions are also being mooted. David Ray seems convinced that there is a real dilemma for Arteta – well, it should be said – on the right wing.
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Jurrien Timber collected 60 minutes at Brighton and his condition was managed while away to Holland. While that’s a positive, he’s still not 100 per cent fit, so there’s a chance Ben White could feature again if he’s ready to compete again after picking up a groin injury in training during the break.
Ezri Konsa should be fine at centre-back, although England will not feature against the Czech Republic tonight and will partner Gabriel Magalhaes if all goes to plan.
If Konsa is unavailable, Cristhian Mosquera could slot in alongside Gabriel at the heart of Arteta’s backline. Left-back Riccardo Calafiori should keep his place in the team after scoring his first goal against Turkey for the Italian national team.
Midfield is a bit trickier. Declan Rice is well rested and should start, but Bruno Guimaraes has traveled a lot with Brazil in the last few weeks and he was also woeful at Brighton.
Because of this, Myles Lewis-Skelly could come on, a big chance for compatriot Eberechi Eze. Eze is yet to start in the Premier League this season, but an injury to Tzolis means he is now first choice in that department.
Martin Odegaard will maintain his place as the creative center of the team with Bukayo Saka on the right wing. In attack, Viktor Gyokeres will get his big chance as he prepares to start his first Premier League matches of the season.
The Swede has been in inspired form during the national break, scoring in all four of his country’s Nations League games. Mikel Merino may get some minutes in the second half as the Jokerit’s deputy, but the 28-year-old is ready to take the mark for Arsenal after a slow start to the season at club level.
Arsenal host Leeds in an early kick-off on Saturday, with the return of Premier League football live on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max.
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