Leeds boss Javia Gracia has admitted his players must be aggressive and clinical if they want to win their Premier League clash against Arsenal this weekend.
Despite being in 14th after an impressive 4-2 victory against Wolves before the international break, the Whites are just two points off the relegation zone, with West Ham, the team occupying the final spot in the bottom three, holding an important game in hand.
Earlier in the season, a strike from Bukayo Saka handed Arsenal a narrow win over Leeds at Elland Road, however both teams will likely arrive to Saturday's game in very different shape. Firstly, Leeds replaced their manager with Gracia taking over from Jesse Marsch and the visitors will also be without three key figures.
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Tyler Adams, Max Wober and Wilfried Gnonto are all set to miss the clash through injury, although Gracia has recently welcomed back Crysencio Summerville and Rodrigo.
Leeds aren't the only team facing injury blows as Mikel Arteta confirmed that William Saliba will also miss the game. The Arsenal boss said: "We are trying to manage him in the best possible way. Unfortunately he’s not gonna be fit for this game and we’re trying and he’s trying to do everything to feel better and get back training. But not yet."
In their last three Premier League games at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal have scored 11 goals, which means Leeds will have to be at their very best defensively. In his pre-match press conference, Gracia was asked about Arsenal and the 52-year-old appeared to hint at his plan for the game, which likely is not a significant surprise to many.
"We are playing against the team at the top of the table and we have to be ready for that," he said on Thursday. "They are doing many things well and you can see the stats, they always have, against Bournemouth for example, they had 80 per cent possession. In other games they always have around 70 per cent of possession.
"You have to be ready to defend more than attack and when attacking you try to be aggressive and clinical and take the chances you have. For sure you need to make very good defensive work and if you don’t do it you don’t have any chance."
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