It may not be Arsenal’s toughest game this season, but Leeds at home on Sunday is definitely the club’s biggest game so far.
With each game, the pressure mounts as the Gunners look to secure Champions League football for the first time since 2016.
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Mikel Arteta’s side are currently in fourth place, two points above north London rivals Tottenham, who have won their last three Premier League games.
Arsenal go into their home game against Leeds buoyed by the news that Arteta has signed a long-term contract at the Emirates until 2025.
If there was one game Arsenal fans wanted this weekend, Leeds at home would probably be high on the supporter lists.
The Gunners, who crushed the Yorkshire outfit 4-1 in December at Elland Road, are unbeaten in their last 11 meetings with the Whites in all competitions, winning nine times.
Their last defeat came in May 2003 after Leeds won 3-2 at Highbury to end Arsenal’s hopes of retaining the Premier League title.
And with Leeds languishing in 17th place and potentially without SIX players, Arsenal go into the match heavy favorites to claim all three points.
Captain Liam Cooper and striker Patrick Bamford are doubtful to be included in the day’s squad.
Meanwhile, Stuart Dallas has just undergone surgery on the broken leg he suffered in the 4-0 loss to Manchester City.
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In addition to the trio, Adam Forshaw, Tyler Roberts and Crysensio Summerville will also not be present on the trip to the capital.
Leeds know that a defeat could send them into the relegation zone heading into the penultimate week of the campaign if Everton beat Leicester on Sunday.
But despite their beating at the hands of the Citizens, Leeds have shown defensive resilience under US coach Jesse Marsch.
They have only lost once of their last six games, and before City’s defeat, they had won three of five, conceding just four goals.
The Whites even kept a clean sheet when they faced Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on April 25.
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Patrick Vieira’s men scored three goals against Arsenal last month, showing that Leeds are more than capable of absorbing the pressure.
Expect to see Leeds sit back and allow Arsenal to have the ball as they look to follow Brighton’s approach from April 9 and hit their opponents at half-time.
But with Bukayo Saka set to be fit to start after his injury concern at West Ham, you can be sure Leeds will have their hands full all afternoon.
