Five at the back for Leeds United throws open the doors to another selection dilemma or two for Jesse Marsch on Sunday at Arsenal. Manchester City were the first top-six side Marsch has had to face in the Premier League and therefore the defensive experiment may continue with another big gun next up.
Furthermore, this match is away from home and the American has to expect his Leeds side to be under the cosh for lengthy spells at Emirates Stadium where the hosts are in form and gunning for the top four. Whether it shakes out as 5-2-3 or 5-4-1, centre-backs are the order of the day.
Liam Cooper’s withdrawal from last weekend’s warm-up will be cleared up in Marsch’s pre-match press conference, but if the captain is unavailable it throws up an intriguing plot. Diego Llorente’s relegation from the starting line-up to the bench was not clarified, but there were murmurings of a knock which were underlined when he remained seated as Charlie Cresswell warmed up during Robin Koch’s first-half medical treatment.
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Luke Ayling looks a smart bet for right-back in light of Stuart Dallas’s injury, Jamie Shackleton’s limited exposure in recent months and Raphinha’s natural attacking flair. That shift would open up a central slot alongside Pascal Struijk and Koch.
Llorente is more experienced than Cresswell, but his performances have brought some doubt and trepidation to the backline with his affinity for the unpredictable. Is there something to be said for the blood and thunder of a youngster, who has shone when chosen, playing without fear in a relegation battle?
While we are still piecing together Marsch’s criteria for selection and appetite for fearless youths in the heat of battle, it seems a tall order to expect a 19-year-old with five league outings to leapfrog a 28-year-old Spain international. Time will tell.
