Arsenal will shift their attention towards the Carabao Cup as they take on Leeds United on Tuesday. The Gunners are coming on the back of a fresh 3-1 victory over Aston Villa and are unbeaten in all competitions since a 5-0 battering at the hands of Manchester City. In the EFL Cup, they had beaten Wimbledon 3-0 in the last round, but Leeds United are set to offer a much bigger challenge for Mikel Arteta and his men.
Predicted Arsenal Lineup Vs Leeds United
Defence
Arsenal are heading into this game with one potential absentee in the form of Kieran Tierney. The left-back had missed the game against Aston Villa owing to an ankle problem. He is unlikely to be risked for this game, regardless of his fitness this midweek.
Nuno Tavares had deputized Tierney on the weekend and could do the same this time around. His offensive endeavours could offer Arsenal some much-needed variety, especially with Cedric likely to replace Takehiro Tomiyasu at right-back.
Arteta could make changes in central defence as well, with both first-choice centre-backs Ben White and Gabriel Magalhaes set to be rested. It paves the way for Pablo Mari and Rob Holding to return to the starting eleven.
Further changes are expected in goal, where new signing Aaron Ramsdale could make way for Bernd Leno.
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Midfield
Arteta doesn’t have a great deal of depth in the midfield department, despite the summer arrival of Albert Sambi Lokonga. In fact, the new man is set to be rested this midweek, alongside Thomas Partey while Granit Xhaka is a long-term absentee.
It opens up the opportunity for Ainsley Maitland-Niles to start in midfield, most likely alongside another fringe player in Mohamed Elneny. Both Lokonga and Partey are options Arteta could use from the bench later on.
Attack
Arteta won’t have to deal with a long injury list heading into this game, especially in the attacking department where almost all the options are available. That said, the Spaniard is guaranteed to ring in the changes in order to provide a breather for key players.
On the flanks, Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe could make way for Nicolas Pepe and Gabriel Martinelli while a change in the number ten role should see Martin Odegaard replacing Alexandre Lacazette.
Lacazette is an option to spearhead the Arsenal frontline. But with his contract expiring at the end of the season, Arteta might opt for the young Eddie Nketiah this midweek.
