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MOT VIew: 20y/o to make debut, Bielsa to make 7 changes – Predicted Leeds line-up v Arsenal
Marcelo Bielsa is probably going to make significant changes to his Leeds United side for the FA Cup clash against Arsenal on Monday night.
As much as we want to see how our strongest XI will stack up to Arsenal, it’s not the right thing to do – promotion is the only thing that matters.
Mikel Arteta will likely make changes himself so it will still be a fascinating tie and we think Leeds fans will get to see two youngsters make their senior debuts.
Illan Meslier hasn’t played for Leeds yet but the 19-year-old could be asked to step up if Kiko Casilla gets a ban for racism.
He’s got an FA hearing coming up shortly and this is the perfect opportunity to see what he is all about. He could be very handy if the tie goes to penalties – he’s saved a number of them since he arrived at Leeds.
The other player we think will get his debut is 20-year-old Robbie Gotts. He’s been on the bench a ridiculous number of times without getting on the pitch.
Bielsa has acknowledged it and Gotts can finally be unleashed against Arsenal. Not a bad side to make your senior debut against.
We’ve had to take a couple of guesses over fitness. If Tyler Roberts has shaken off his hamstring problem we think he will start and that Patrick Bamford will get a rest. Likewise Jamie Shackleton.
We think some first-team players will keep their places, but not many. Ben White, Helder Costa, Gjanni Alioski and Kalvin Phillips will give the experience to the side but we think Bielsa will make seven changes from the team that drew 1-1 with West Brom.
It’s going to be a tough ask for a team like this to go to the Emirates and get a result – but then a cup run probably isn’t what we need right now anyway.
In other Leeds United news, ‘I love watching Leeds’ – Mark Lawrenson predicts FA Cup clash v Arsenal, makes big Bielsa claim