Game Week 18 predictions: Arsenal primed to punish lean Leeds

Raphinha has been the leading light in the Leeds United team, can he lift them above Arsenal on Saturday? (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

Leeds United vs Arsenal
Elland Road
6:30pm

Leeds United went to Manchester City on a day the road was bleeding, they didn’t do much wrong but the little was enough to annoy the hosts and seven odd times, Illan Meslier had to pick the ball from his own net, it was brutal.

Arsenal played hosts to Westham, a team on top of them on the table by two points and two places with not many bookies backing the Gunners considering how well the Hammers have played of late, two second half goals and Arsenal are in the top four at this stage for the first time in almost two years.

Could Leeds have done some damage limitation against the champions? Yes but we know El Loco, he will never bow to pressure, he has an idea of how football should be played and not even a hammering will make him change that.

Arsenal aren’t in the mold of the champions but Marcelo Bielsa can’t maintain same approach, at some points he has to learn when to retreat and lock things up or when to launch out, but when they’re on the latter, they must mind the hole behind.

Arsenal can build on their recent back to back wins and clean sheet with yet another one at Leeds United, although majority of their clean sheets this season have come at the Emirates, they need to add points away from home if they want to be up there at the end of the season.

The situation of former club captain Pierre Emerick Aubameyang has gone from bad to worse as he’ll no longer be allowed to train with the first team at least until he returns from AFCON, we have no idea of the details but something fundamental has gone wrong.

Arsenal have won the two games played since the Gabonese was axed and the pressing during the two games encourage the manager, is someone asking if the former club captain has been the problem all the while?

Leeds United don’t really have good memories against the Gunners especially since their return last season, a goalless draw against ten men in the first leg and a 4-2 loss in the second, add two cup losses to the Gunners to that since then as well, they’d look to change something this time.

Leeds are reported to be missing lots of first team players to injuries and suspension, Junior Firpo is ruled out after hacking down Phil Foden in the 7-0 annihilation in midweek, if covid allows this game to go on, Leeds will need something special to get a result here.