Patrick Bamford and Weston McKennie axed, Robin Koch for midfield – Confirmed Leeds United starting XI vs Arsenal
Javi Gracia’s confirmed Leeds United starting XI for the Premier League trip to face league-leaders Arsenal has been confirmed by the club.
The manager has had to contend with multiple injury blows but he has also dropped big names Patrick Bamford and Weston McKennie to the bench.
Max Wober and Willy Gnonto are both out, and Tyler Adams will be absent long-term, so in come Rasmus Kristensen and Pascal Struijk, as Robin Koch appears to have moved into midfield, while Luis Sinisterra and Crysencio Summerville also start.
There is no recognised striker in the line up with Rodrigo also on the bench, as Jack Harrison and Brenden Aaronson keep their places in attack, while Marc Roca remains in midfield.
Luke Ayling and Junior Firpo both start again, along with Illan Meslier, as the manager makes some surprise choices, with it looking like both centre-backs are to be different from the 4-2 win at Wolves on 18 March.
Hold their own
With the Gunners chasing the title this is clearly going to be anything but a simple task but Gracia has managed to have his side generate some momentum.
If this game is anything like as chaotic as the previous victory then all bets are off as to what will happen.
Where the opposition are such strong favourites on paper that might actually benefit the Whites, although the injury absences are obviously a worry.
Avoiding defeat would be huge in terms of maintaining the run that Leeds United are currently on, and keeping the points total ticking over in this wide open relegation battle.
Otherwise the fans will have to hope for the worst for the other teams in the fight against the drop, with three relegation six-pointers occurring this weekend.
Three points makes such a difference to the Premier League table so draws in the games between Crystal Palace and Leicester, Nottingham Forest and Wolves, and Southampton’s trip to West Ham, would be most useful at Elland Road.
In other Leeds United news, there are fears one injured Elland Road ace might never fully recover after the latest development.
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