Beren Cross
Wins are proving hard to come by, Leeds United’s squad is healthier and deeper than it’s been in years, yet it’s hard to look beyond the current XI and confidently find a winning formula. Beyond one or two tight calls through the starting line-up, there is a raft of players with immense potential who have as yet not had a chance or done little with the opportunities they have had.
It’s clear Jesse Marsch has his best goalkeeper, right-sided centre-back, central midfielders and attacking midfielders (with Luis Sinisterra back from suspension) already available to him. The debates at right-back, left-sided centre-back and left-back are not particularly close calls either right now.
That leaves the striker as the call which seems tighter than the rest for Arsenal’s visit. Patrick Bamford and Rodrigo are each fighting their way back to full sharpness after injuries, while the latter started the season brilliantly and the former feels like the long-term first choice.
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Bamford is my pick. He was rusty against Crystal Palace, but as Marsch intimated in his pre-match press conference, encouragement can be found in the number nine getting these chances, even if he is spurning them.
The England international is the long-term bet for the central role and the more minutes he plays, the sooner he’s going to find that top-level once more. There is no contest when it comes to Sinisterra or Rodrigo with the former by far the best attacker in the opening weeks of the season.
On those other more marginal calls: Kristensen turned in his best Leeds performance last weekend to really put Luke Ayling out in the cold, while I need to see Junior Firpo a few times from the bench before I drop improving Pascal Struijk. Liam Cooper had a challenging afternoon in Croydon, but Diego Llorente’s stock is at rock bottom and the captain is still piecing together starts after a long time out.
Brenden Aaronson’s first half put enough credit in the bank for him to remain a key starter, but Jack Harrison, despite his excellent statistics, continues to fail the eye test. Crysencio Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto would love a run at that left flank, but it seems drastic to drop the incumbent at this point.
Beren’s XI: Meslier; Kristensen, Koch, Cooper, Struijk; Adams, Roca; Sinisterra, Aaronson, Harrison; Bamford.
Will Jackson
Bringing Luis Sinisterra back into the fold this weekend is a no-brainer, for me. The Colombian has been one of Leeds’ brightest players when he’s been on the field and he’s one of the only players in Jesse Marsch’s squad capable of producing something out of nothing.
He missed last week through suspension, but his availability gives Leeds a better chance of snapping their winless run and producing one of the shocks of the season so far against this Arsenal side. He’s played on the left this season and that ensures Jack Harrison, who has looked short of form in recent weeks, should be on the right.
Brenden Aaronson takes up the spot in the middle, while, for me, Patrick Bamford is the man to lead the line this weekend. He looked rusty at times last week, but it’s clear he needs minutes under his belt if he is to rediscover his best form.
Rodrigo had his moments against Palace, but failed to make a lasting impact on the game in that secondary striker role and he’s the man that drops out, in my view. Pascal Struijk has done more than enough to get the nod over Junior Firpo, while Rasmus Kristensen was very good last time out, too, meaning Luke Ayling may have to settle for a bench spot once more.
Will’s XI: Meslier; Kristensen, Koch, Cooper, Struijk; Adams, Roca; Harrison, Aaronson, Sinisterra; Bamford.
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