Leeds United celebrate against Crystal Palace. Pic: GettyLeeds United celebrate against Crystal Palace. Pic: Getty
Leeds United celebrate against Crystal Palace. Pic: Getty

Leeds United's predicted line-up against Arsenal - how Marcelo Bielsa could solve Kalvin Phillips absence

Leeds United travel to face Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon - but how could the Whites line-up at the Emirates?

Marcelo Bielsa faces a major injury worry over influential midfielder Kalvin Phillips for the clash with the Gunners in North London.

The Thorp Arch academy product limped off late on against Crystal Palace on Monday night and is still being assessed ahead of the trip to the capital.

Bielsa already has a number of players in his squad in the treatment room with the England international a possibility to join them.

Pablo Hernandez, Rodrigo and Diego Llorente are missing with short-term issues while Robin Koch is being assessed on a weekly basis as he recovers from a knee problem.

Gaetano Berardi returned to training this week but has been absent since last summer with a torn ACL and is building up his fitness.

If Phillips is missing in the capital then Bielsa has a decision to make over whether he moves Pascal Struijk forward from defence or opts to leave a settled back four along and bring in Tyler Roberts or Jamie Shackleton into midfield.

Should the latter option arise it would be between Stuart Dallas and Mateusz Klich to play with the added responsibility of covering in front of the back four.

Arsenal play with one up front therefore the Argentine head coach is expected to stick with his favoured 4-1-4-1 formation.

If the worst case scenario unfolds and the Yorkshire Pirlo fails a fitness test, here's how the Yorkshire Evening Post would like to see Leeds line-up against the Gunners...

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