Leeds United have made an unbeaten start to the Premier League season, but Daniel Farke knows the difficulty level is about to increase significantly.
Leeds have taken nine points from their opening five games and will head to the Emirates on October 10 without having tasted defeat. Arsenal, however, represents arguably their toughest test yet.
Farke will have had plenty of time to think through his plans during the international break, and three decisions in particular could shape how Leeds approach the trip to north London.
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Should Farke tinker with the midfield?
Anton Stach’s place should not be in question.
The Germany international has started all five league games so far and has already made a significant contribution, including the spectacular winner against Nottingham Forest on the opening weekend.
The question is who plays alongside him.
Ethan Ampadu has also started every league game and remains the obvious anchor in midfield. The debate centres on the third midfield option if Farke wants more protection against an Arsenal side likely to dominate possession for long periods.
Ao Tanaka has already been used in the deeper midfield role, while Sean Longstaff offers another option if Farke wants greater energy and defensive work.
There is also the possibility of keeping things exactly as they are.
Leeds used Stach, Ampadu and Tanaka together against Crystal Palace, with that midfield helping Farke’s side come away from Selhurst Park with a point.
The temptation against Arsenal will be to add another defensive-minded player, with Ilia Gruev also expected to return to the squad after recovering from a knee injury.
Farke has to decide whether that would actually make Leeds more secure or simply leave them without enough of the ball to threaten Arsenal.
Should Jaka Bijol return to the starting XI?
Farke has already shown that he is happy to use a back three, and there is little reason to expect that to change against Arsenal.
The more interesting question is who makes up that back three.
Tarik Muharemovic has started every league game and has impressed during his first weeks at the club. Jaka Bijol, meanwhile, has started two of the first five matches.
Bijol’s experience could be particularly valuable at the Emirates.
Arsenal will ask plenty of questions of Leeds’ central defenders, both with their forwards’ movement and the quality they have in possession. A defender comfortable in physical battles and defending crosses could therefore be important.
Farke doesn’t necessarily have to drop Muharemovic or Nico Elvedi to bring Bijol back, either.
With Joe Rodon currently unavailable, Elvedi and James Justin give the manager plenty to consider.
But if Farke believes Bijol’s experience suits Arsenal’s attack better, the international break has given him the perfect opportunity to make that change.
Does Harry Wilson come straight back in?
This may be Farke’s most interesting attacking decision.
Harry Wilson was one of Leeds’ major summer additions, brought in to provide creativity and quality in the final third.
His absence has not exactly derailed Leeds’ start. The team remain unbeaten and has found different ways to get results.
But Wilson’s return would give Farke another player who can create something from very little.
The problem is that players have already established themselves in his absence.
Noah Okafor has started four of the five league games, while Brenden Aaronson has also been involved regularly. Leeds therefore have to decide whether Wilson automatically gets his place back or whether Farke rewards the players who have helped the team make such a positive start.
Against Arsenal, the decision becomes even more significant.
Leeds are unlikely to have the same amount of possession they have enjoyed in some of their other matches, so having someone capable of producing a decisive pass or delivery could be crucial.
Farke therefore has three decisions to make before Leeds travel to the Emirates.
The midfield balance, the composition of the back three and Wilson’s potential return could all have a major influence on how Leeds approach one of their biggest tests of the season.
The unbeaten start has given Farke plenty of options.
Now he has to decide whether continuity or a tactical tweak gives Leeds the best chance of extending it.
