Arsenal have entered the final 10 games of the season with Leeds United the first up. The Gunners will be playing minutes after the conclusion of Manchester City’s critical clash with former title rivals Liverpool, who this season are fighting only for a Champions League qualification spot.
It is set to be an exciting and potentially title-defining weekend of football. Javi Gracia faces Mikel Arteta for the first time and is without several key players like Wilfried Gnonto, Maxi Wober and Tyler Adams.
Question marks of William Saliba’s potential long-term availability linger and Thomas Partey missed the second game for Ghana which Chris Hughton described as a "small injury". However, the midfielder did train ahead of the visit of Leeds.
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Mikel Arteta has had the whole international break to consider his team and has some questions to answer. Thankfully, the football.london Arsenal writers are on hand to provide some help in the form of their suggestions for the fixture.
Tom Canton - Arsenal writer
It is time for the full return of Gabriel Jesus and for the final 10 games of the season, the Brazilian can be unleashed again on Arsenal’s Premier League prey. Although Leandro Trossard has been excellent, having the cornerstone to the Gunners’ stylistic approach in the first half of the season back fit and firing will be key and this is a great game to bring him in.
Elsewhere the chance for Rob Holding to replace the injured William Saliba will raise questions with some supporters still attempting mental gymnastics to avoid using him. This is rather ludicrous and the most experienced centre-half at the club is the right man for the job.
Elsewhere the story is one we’ve heard before from Aaron Ramsdale through to player of the month Bukayo Saka. The bench is what intrigues me the most because Mikel Arteta has access to change the game with Trossard, Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira, not to mention Reiss Nelson and the soon-to-return Eddie Nketiah not too far away.
The attacking depth is exciting, it is the defence that remains suddenly thin and players like Jakub Kiwior and Kieran Tierney might see use to mitigate tiredness and risk of injury. Strap in for the run-in, it’s here.
Canton’s Arsenal XI vs Leeds United - Ramsdale; White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard, Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Martinelli.
Kaya Kaynak - Chief Arsenal writer
I think Aaron Ramsdale is an obvious choice in goal at this point. It's almost not worth discussing whether he should be between the sticks.
Like Ramsdale, the rest of the Arsenal back five more or less picks itself for me too. Zinchenko starts ahead of Tierney to manipulate the spaces Leeds will leave in behind, while Ben White is nailed on in the absence of Tomiyasu, and Gabriel is probably the best defender in the Premier League right now. I suppose you could make a case to play Jakub Kiwior at centre-back alongside the Brazilian, but something about two lefties just doesn't feel right to me. It's irrational I know, but it just doesn't.
In midfield, the trio of Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka and Martin Odegaard are an obvious pick. I might look to consider taking Partey off a little early if he's struggling with injury ahead of Liverpool away next week.
Up top, you're not going to drop Bukayo Saka or the man who I would have voted player of the month for March, Gabriel Martinelli. That leaves a straight shootout between Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus up top. Trossard would rightly argue that he's earnt his starting place, but it feels less of a risk to start Gabriel Jesus for the first time since November against Leeds than it does at Anfield.
Kaynak's Arsenal XI vs Leeds United - Ramsdale; White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.
Tashan Deniran-Alleyne - Arsenal writer
Saturday feels like it could be a pivotal day in this season's Premier League title race. With Manchester City facing Liverpool before Arsenal kick-off against Leeds United, Mikel Arteta has to name his strongest possible team regardless of what happens at the Etihad Stadium.
For me, that means a start for Thomas Partey but only on the condition that the midfielder is 100% fit. All signs point towards this being the case as he wasn't risked by Ghana against Angola at the beginning of the week and was spotted in training at London Colney.
Furthermore, despite Martin Odegaard completing 90 minutes in both of Norway's fixtures during the international break, I would expect him to start alongside Granit Xhaka in the engine room and perhaps earn a rest in the second half, if the game allows for it.
William Saliba's confirmed absence hands Rob Holding another chance to partner Gabriel Magalhaes at the heart of Arsenal's defence and at the opposite end Gabriel Jesus can replace Leandro Trossard for his first Premier League start since November.
Deniran-Alleyne's Arsenal XI vs Leeds United - Ramsdale; White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Odegaard, Xhaka; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.
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