- Arsenal v Leeds – update on injuries and reasons to expect a victory
- Arsenal v Leeds United. How this referee compares with others…
- Political interference in Man City appeal: how we lost football once again
By Tony Attwood
Well, it does indeed seem so strange that Arsenal actually have an actual match to play that I overslept, following last night out dancing (my hobby other than football I may have mentioned a few thousand times – football involves writing, reading and shouting, dancing involves moving my arms and legs – and apologising when I bumpt into somebody – it’s not a bad combination in old age).
The Standard tell us that it is still possible that Kai Have3rtz could be be involved and will make a late decision about his fitness, and that of Ezri Konsa. They also tell us that, as I think we all knew, Tzolis really does have a persistent hamstring problem and will be out for a while. So Eze geets the place on the left wing.
If Havertz can’t play then Gyokeres goes down the line, noting that he scored four in four for Sweden recently. But on the positive side, as we all hoped Declan Rice available for selection against Leeds this afternoon. Of Rice, Arseblog adds, that the manager said, “We have to manage him because he’s had a few issues since he came back from the World Cup. Hopefully tomorrow he’s available.”
Arseblog confirms that Kai Havertz, Ezri Konsa and Christos Tzolis “all suffered knocks while away on international duty” which is just about par for the course. But they also add some quotes:
On Havertz: “Kai had a muscular injury. I spoke to Germany and they sent the player back as normal. With Ezri we had good communication with the England camp. Tzolis has a muscle injury as he’s going to be out for a few weeks.”
When asked if Tzolis was the worst of the three, the Spaniard responded: “Yeah, he’s not available.”
Arseblog also quote the visiting manager as admitting they are of course “underdogs” but says it will be a “good chance to show how far Leeds have come.
“It’s no coincidence that in the last 10-11 months we have been the fifth best team in the Premier League in terms of points. We haven’t won the lottery to be in fifth, it’s not coincidence that we are unbeaten after a very impressive start to the Premier League.”
Yesterday the Sun said “MIKEL ARTETA” (quite why they said igt in capitals I have no idea but there it is, “is still sweating on the fitness of a number of top stars ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Leeds tomorrow.” But then we should also note that according to the Sun Arteta is always sweating before each game. One can only hope that the manager keeps on drinking the water, knowing that he loses such a large amount of liquid in talking to the Sun reporters before each match,. That’s a bit of a worry.
On Havertz he is quoted as adding, “With Kai, because he had a muscular injury, I spoke to Jurgen and immediately thRaya, White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori, Rice, Lewis-Skelly, Saka, Odegaard, Eze, Gyokeres. They sent the player back as is normal.”
But in an interesting turn of events the Sun do give us a positive review…. saying “Merino and Gyokeres have both excelled during the international break and will be desperate to step into his role and try and nail down a starting spot after spending much of the season on the bench this term .
“Arteta is also boosted by the return of Piero Hincapie, Cristhian Mosquera and Ben White, who should all be available for selection against Leeds.” But please note that was in the Sun, so….
Then they tell us that despite Downman dropping out of the training with the England under 19s he has been training with Arsenal.
So they go with
Eze Gyokeres Saka
Lewis Skelly Odegaard Rice
Calafiori Gabriel Mosquera White
Raya
But it is the Sun so there is always a negative in here somewhere. And this time it is “The Arsenal boss will have to be careful not to knock Gyokeres’ confidence even further, though.”
Gyokeres
Saka, Odegaard, Eze;
Rice, Guimaraes;
White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori
Raya; .
Yahoo Sports have pretty much the same….
Gyokeres
Saka, Odegaard, Eze;
Rice, Lewis Skelly
White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori
Raya;
so unless everything has read the wrong tea leaves that will be about it.
Hopefully I might be able to get the laptop working after the game….
