Arsenal - Leeds: Breakthrough time

Arsenal are eight points ahead of Man City and have also played one more game. Mikel Arteta's teachers and students have the right to decide to win the championship, which may not be easy because Man City has sprinted many times to win the Premier League. However, Pep Guardiola's army must meet Liverpool in the earliest match of this round, and there is a risk of dropping points. With home advantage against Leeds, Arsenal can dream of a 10 or 11 point difference against Man City after round 29.

Coach Arteta said that the whole Arsenal team will focus on the match against Leeds, but do not miss the match at the Etihad Stadium. "If possible, we will definitely watch Man City's game," he said. "The strength of the two teams is not much difference and the match will be interesting. But when they enter the meeting with Leeds, Arsenal will play hard."

Arsenal continue to miss center-back William Saliba because of a back injury. Arteta is not sure when the France international will return, but he believes in the ability of stuntman Rob Holding. "He has a lot of experience at Arsenal and showed his ability in the win against Crystal Palace," added the Spaniard.

Striker Gabriel Jesus is also not fit enough to start and Eddie Nketiah is still recovering, but Arsenal are not too concerned because the trio of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard are playing well in attack. In the match against Fulham, Trossard also entered Premier League history with three assists in an away game.

Arsenal's worry lies in the midfield, when Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka have to constantly plow. The reserve midfielders also do not impress when given the opportunity to play. That prompted Arsenal to send a fitness coach to accompany Partey when he returned to play for Ghana during the last team gathering.

Arteta also appreciates Leeds and thinks that the visitors have their own DNA in their way of playing. "Coach Javier Gracia has brought a few new points for Leeds," said Arteta. "We have analyzed and realized that Arsenal will have to play very well to win this match."

Leeds is in 14th place with 26 points, in the group of nine relegation teams. They are only two points above the 18th position, which means that Gracia's teachers and students can fall to the group holding the red light after just one round.

In the relegation group, Leeds have the best form with seven points in the last five matches. In which, their two wins were against rivals Southampton and Wolverhampton. Their achievement is partly due to the new coach effect, when Mr. Gracia helped pull the team out of the group holding the red light.

Mr. Gracia understands that Arsenal will not have many opponents to keep the ball, while Leeds' style of play is also more about possession. "Arsenal holds the ball up to 80% of the time against Bournemouth, other games also up to 70%," said Gracia. "But we are ready to play this game."

Arsenal are on their longest winning streak this season, with six games. With a home advantage against a not-so-strong opponent, Arteta's teachers and students can improve their winning streak and, importantly, get closer to the championship after 19 years of waiting.

If that happens, Arteta will also become the youngest manager in history to win the Premier League at the age of 41.

Arsenal: Ramsdale - White, Holding, Magalhaes, Zinchenko - Odegaard, Partey, Xhaka - Saka, Trossard, Martinelli.

Leeds: Meslier - Ayling, Koch, Cooper, Firpo - Roca, McKennie - Summerville, Aaronson, Harrison - Bamford.