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Confirmed Arsenal team to face Leeds United – Madueke starts

Arsenal welcome promoted Leeds United to the Emirates this evening with a good chance of going joint top, and this is the side selected by Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal team v Leeds

Leeds won their opening game of the season at Elland Road over Everton thanks to a late controversial penalty and will no doubt come into this game with a lot of confidence, but Arsenal are not Everton, and they will find the Gunners a totally different proposition.

Arsenal beat Manchester United in their opening Premier League fixture in what could only be described as a below-par performance; a massive improvement is expected today against Daniel Farke’s men.

The pressure is certainly on Mikel Arteta, considering the transfer spending done this summer and the quality of players brought in, and nothing less than a win will do today. Leeds will most likely employ the low block, no matter what Farke says, and the lads will have to find a way to break United down.

All eyes will be on Viktor Gyokeres with expectations high that he will find the back of the net against a promoted side; however, this is Premier League football, and no game is easy.

All things considered, Arsenal should be winning this game today, and by at least a couple of goals; they cannot put in another substandard display.

Let us know in the comments below what you think about the side Arteta has selected and what your predicted score is.

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Tags Arsenal v Leeds United

93 Comments

  2. Look at that bench and we are still missing White, Havertz, Jesus and Eze. Much better compared to last season.

  3. Madueke can make a big statement tonight. He gets his chance to put down a marker….Martinelli has not been firing on all cylinders. Cant wait to see him in action from the top of the Clock Stand…..

    1. So wish I was there for this one, but Daddy chose to go racing. Can’t wait for kick off, downing cocktails too fast in excitement.

      Yok will score. 🫡

  4. Is this Dowman’s first bench for Prem game?

    Go at them Maddy. I believe in you. 💛🥰

  5. Good strong starting line-up. Very interested to see how Madueke, and hoping for goals by Gyökeres.

  6. Strong selection. Let’s hope for the win of course and a good performance in front of the home crowd.

  7. I wouldn’t be surprised if Martinelli gets sold to Bayern Muenchen or another club before the transfer window closes, to fund Eze’s transfer and to make room for Eze/ Madueke on the left wing

    1. I think Arsenal could do with a “big” sale if possible – although whether that could/would be Martinelli is a question.

      The way things are going it’s unlikely we’ll get that much for most of the players that the club is reported to want to sell (even if Berta manages to sell them, which is another question).

      So far, only Kiwior appears to be attracting any real interest although there’s still a while to go yet until 1 September.

      1. I think Kiwior will force Arsenal to sell him if there’s a very good offer from another club, despite Arsenal’s intention to keep him and Calafiori’s injury history

      1. Arsenal might be willing to let him go, since they’ve got Merino and Trossard to play second fiddle to Gyokeres

  9. Madueke is lazier than Pepe in helping his sideback in marking

    Let’s see how his relationship with Arteta unfolds

    For me:
    Left: Eze/Trossard/Martinelli

    Right: Saka/Madueke/Dowman

    Middle: Odegaard/Nwaneri

    1. Leave Maddy alone! 😠

      Eze is non existent in defensive capacity, nor can he play proper wing without all his magic powers disappearing.

      1. Eze will NEVER play left wing for Arsenal. They will do it different to accommodate him, not have outright left wing when he’s on pitch but allow him to roam more centrally, almost like a support striker. And this is SO TRUE if you don’t believe me just watch. 🍳

    2. Eze will NEVER play left wing for Arsenal. They will do it different to accommodate him, not have outright left wing when he’s on pitch but allow him to roam more centrally, almost like a support striker. And this is SO TRUE if you don’t believe me just watch.

  10. Eze’s official! I’m so happy for him. Those tears he cried when we released him and fast forward all these years and he’s back home where he belongs! Can’t wait to see him out there. Love the clip with Wrighty ❤️

    Come on Arsenal, 3 points please

  12. Is it me or is saka looking bulkier this season? A little too much even. That muscle will affect his agility and speed.

    1. We have only started fast but we are not at all threatening
      Leeds looking lively right now going forward

      1. They have got into the game after our bright start but slow football only plays into Leeds hands imo

  14. They’ve found a weak link down our left with Calafiori.
    Dan James constantly beating him for speed.

    2. SueP, please don’t get the “we’re scoring too many goals from set pieces” and they are somehow related to how many we score from open play crowd going again.

  19. Another frustrating game to watch. Our players are so spread out on the pitch they can’t link with each other. I think we are so rigid in our formation that we’re forgotten to play football.

  24. Now we need Viktor Gyökeres to score
    He needs to score soon
    Otherwise pressure will mount on him after every game

  25. Arsenal in charge, with Leeds posing little threat, but they needed the Saka goal. Hopefully, that will lead to more to come in the second half.

  26. Great goal from Saka. I thought Arteta was going to replace Odegaard with Merino, but Nwaneri did pretty well so far

    I’m sure Slot will be worried about our set-piece capabilities

  27. Our style makes it too easy for teams on a low block. Still no creative spark whatsoever.

    There’re moments I felt the likes of Odegaard and Zubimendi could’ve released the ball much earlier and play a better though ball to a free player. They instead take too much touch until the Leads players fall back to shape.

    A lot of work to be done. But is Arteta ready to change his approach? We see how the likes of Liverpool and even Chelsea beat low blocks. 🤷🏿‍♂️

    1. Completely agree, we’re playing too safe at times.
      On the other hand, while I like how nwaneri shows great skill in taking on people in very tight spaces, he’s over doing it a bit (that did lead to the second goal though so maybe he’s doing the right thing 🤷)

  28. Finally a goal from open play! Still not convinced with our football, too slow and mechanical.

  29. Nwaneri is already showing his impact, a ball carrier who is not afraid of penetrating the opposition’ s defense in tight areas. Hope Ode is speedy recovery but I think our style…, we need fluency and more creativity. Many occasions we could have passed to Madueke or be more direct more. On the other hand, Gyokeres needs to win some hold up plays.

  30. Gyokeres looking too nervous and too eager. Will take some time to tinker our formation to suit him and him to adapt to a possession based team. Perhaps he’s putting too much pressure on himself.

  31. What’s wrong on left is Rice, Maddy, Ricky getting in each others way.
    Ricky overlaps, but you need Maddy widest taking defender on or crossing. Ricky should underlap.
    Leeds physical. Man Utd were physical. Bring on the stick men of Liverpool for a more technical game.

  32. If you are screaming “move it quicker” it’s not necessarilythe player on the ball, it’s what movement for options are off it.

    1. 🎵He comes Sweden, the girls are very nice,
      He dumped his girlfriend to play in red and white,
      He’s scoring goals with a cannon on his chest,
      His name is Viktor, Viktor Gyokeres 🎵

  37. Great Gyokeres and Saka scored in the first game. Hopefully that will continue
    Well done to Timber too

    1. It looks like that
      Arteta should take him off for Trossard or Martinelli
      Madueke on right

  43. Our conditioning of our players is rubbish

    Injuries are not an excuse, its the managers responsibility that players are in the right shape. If you have disproportionate amount of muscular injuries, then there’s a problem the manager and medical team are missing and not attending to!

    Every team gets injuries, but if it’s a recurring issue then you cant just do nothing but use it as an excuse

    Some will disagree, we know who 😊

    2. Great point. A therapist friend of mine raised the same question last season. We need to work on our injury issue, maybe a new medical team. We need a medical team that matches our ambition and transfer successes.

      Hope nothing is too bad with any of our injuried players.

  45. The gaffer just cannot resist the chance for this beautiful stat on the book, welcome young Doman

  48. 5:0. Well-done Arsenal and well done Goykeres in particular. We’re going to have a lot of this silly “face covering” but it’s worth it!

    1. Agree Bertie. His open play goal was particularly top notch. I was also very impressed with Madueke’s left wing play.

  51. This Dowman Guy Dey Give Me Joy

    I love how everyone seems to want to free him up and give him the ball

  52. A great day at the office
    Clean sheet
    Another 3 points
    Top of the league
    3 keys players out, and we seem to have backup
    Youngster blooded a d looms hot for the future
    Well done the arsenal
    Onwards and upwards

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