Daniel Farke has a couple of interesting decisions to make before Leeds United travel to Arsenal on Saturday, with one of his summer signings potentially paying the price for a player who has given him something to think about during the international break.
Leeds have made an unbeaten start to the Premier League season and will arrive at the Emirates with plenty of confidence. But this is arguably their biggest test yet, and Farke may decide that experience and physicality are particularly important against Mikel Arteta’s side.
There could also be a change further forward, with Harry Wilson unlikely to recover in time after missing the Crystal Palace draw and subsequently withdrawing from the Wales squad.
So, how could Leeds line up?
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£15m ace gets the nod
James Trafford should continue in goal, with the back three also remaining largely unchanged.
Tarik Muharemovic has made an excellent start to life at Elland Road and has quickly established himself as one of Farke’s most reliable defenders. James Justin should keep his place alongside him.
The interesting call comes at the third centre-back spot.
Jaka Bijol should return to the starting XI at the expense of £15m summer signing Nico Elvedi. Elvedi has done well since arriving, but Bijol’s performances for Slovenia during the international break have strengthened his case.
The Slovenian looked aggressive and assured during the break and, with Joe Rodon still sidelined, his physical presence could be particularly useful against Arsenal’s forwards.
The wing-back positions should remain with Jayden Bogle and Gabriel Gudmundsson, while Anton Stach, Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka continue in midfield.
Stach in particular should keep his place after establishing himself as an important part of Farke’s midfield.
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Aaronson or Dan James?
The biggest question in attack depends on Wilson’s fitness.
If the summer signing cannot recover in time, Brenden Aaronson should get the nod on the right rather than Farke completely reshuffling his attacking setup.
Aaronson has not yet produced enough in front of goal this season, but his movement and pressing could make him useful against Arsenal. Leeds will need players willing to chase Arsenal’s defenders and make the hosts uncomfortable when they try to build from the back.
Noah Okafor should continue alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin, giving Leeds pace and a focal point up front.
That would leave Dan James among the substitutes once again.
For James, another omission would be significant, particularly with a starting place opening up because of Wilson’s absence.
Predicted Leeds XI: Trafford; Justin, Muharemovic, Bijol; Bogle, Stach, Ampadu, Tanaka, Gudmundsson; Aaronson, Okafor, Calvert-Lewin.
We might do alright with an extra player, 12 vs 11.
It does little for a journalist’s credibility when he i demonstrably and mathematically fallible.
This site must have been hacked, judging by the ridiculous comment below !!!!!!!!!
Hope he jumps back on here after we come from there with a draw or even a win, cos this isn’t the same team Arsenal played last season. We’ve done brilliantly so far this season, I also get the pragmatic angle, but why not try to be confident instead of spreading doom & gloom for Christs sake !!!! We are Leeds, don’t like it, go support someone else !!!!