Leeds United v Arsenal: Gunners key man, key battle and YEP prediction

Date: Tomorrow

Time: 4.30pm

Venue: Elland Road

TV: Sky Sports

Odds (best available): Leeds win – 11-5, Draw – 11-4, Arsenal win – 13-10.

Last time the teams met at Elland Road: Wednesday January 19, 2011. FA Cup: Leeds United 1 (Johnson 37) Arsenal 3 (Nasri 5, Sagna 35, van Persie 76).

Key battle: Patrick Bamford v Bernd Leno

Even the build-up to tomorrow's game has featured a key battle in midfield with United's England international Kalvin Phillips and Arsenal's £45m summer recruit Thomas Partey both battling to be fit. Who lines up and what happens in the middle of the park will clearly be crucial but so too will be United's fortunes in front of goal. Having netted seven times already this season, Patrick Bamford will clearly lead the Whites line and with Arsenal likely to cause problems at the other end, it is imperative that Leeds take their chances when they come and ensure that German stopper Leno is picking the ball out of the back of the net.

Arsenal key man: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Aubameyang has had an eventful week with the striker and the rest of his Gabon team mates forced to spend a night sleeping on an airport floor ahead of their African Cup of Nations qualifier against Gambia. Aubameyang was not best pleased but last season's Golden Boot joint runner-up is a class act and just the sort of player to bounce back with a bang. Aubameyang has been playing on the left of a front three of late with Alexandre Lacazette in the middle and Willian on the right but Aubameyang might well line up down the middle. Rapidly rising England wing back star Bukayo Saka is also likely to be a menace with his pace down the left.

Lee Sobot's verdict:

Another clash against one of the division's real big guns though Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta readily admits his side are still a long way from where he wants them to be in looking to better last season's eighth-placed finish. The Gunners have also had a less than ideal preparation to put it mildly with Mohamed Elneny and Sead Kolasinac testing positive for covid and David Luiz reportedly having a bust up with Dani Ceballos in training. Leeds are approaching the contest having conceded eight goals in their last two games which is the clear major concern against a side with a potent front three but Arsenal themselves were beaten 3-0 by visiting Aston Villa in their last game and if Leeds can tighten up at the back then the Gunners could be there for the taking. Either way, goals look imminent.

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/arsenal-legend-ian-wright-declares-wish-leeds-uniteds-fans-and-soft-spot-marcelo-bielsas-whites-3043377https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/ben-parker-backing-leeds-united-against-arsenal-former-defender-reflects-own-gunners-memories-3043369