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No Smith Rowe – How Arsenal should line-up vs Leeds

By on May 7, 2022

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Arsenal can cement their place in the top four with a win over Leeds United at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon. This is the line-up I’d like to see Mikel Arteta select for the match…

The big news is that Ben White is set to return after missing the win at West Ham last weekend due to a thigh injury. Rob Holding played superbly at the London Stadium and probably deserves to keep his place. However, I still think White should be recalled to line-up alongside Gabriel in the middle of defence.

Takehiro Tomiyasu limped off against West Ham sparking fears he’d suffered another setback. Thankfully, it was just cramp in his calf and the Japanese international should start once again for Arsenal tomorrow. Nuno Tavares has been pretty solid at left-back recently so he’ll retain his place in the absence of Kieran Tierney.

Thomas Partey remains out so Mo Elneny deserves to start alongside Granit Xhaka in midfield again. He’s a solid 6/7 out of 10 player every week and won’t let Arsenal down, so he should start ahead of Albert Sambi Lokonga.

Bukayo Saka also limped off against West Ham and it looked like he may have aggravated a niggling thigh injury that he’s been carrying lately. However, the 20-year-old’s withdrawal was just a precaution and Saka is fit to start tomorrow.

Emile Smith Rowe is pushing for a recall on the left flank after Gabriel Martinelli’s disappointing display against West Ham. However, I think we should give Martinelli another chance with Smith Rowe an option from the bench.

Up front, Eddie Nketiah deserves to keep his place after an excellent performance against West Ham. He ran his socks off, used his pace well to have several shots on goal and was a threat all game.

Alexandre Lacazette will remain on the Arsenal bench along with Nicolas Pepe and Smith Rowe, so we have attacking options to bring on if needed.

Here is the side I hope we see:

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