By Joe Ellis

5th May, 2022 | 7:10pm

Early Arsenal team news v Leeds United: Bukayo Saka among three doubts

Leeds United take the long trip south to the capital on Sunday to face an in-form Arsenal side, chasing a Champions League place.

It couldn’t be further from what Jesse Marsch is trying to achieve at Elland Road as the Whites look to secure their Premier League safety with just four games to go.

It isn’t all going swimmingly at The Emirates though as Mikel Arteta has some injury concern to sweat over ahead of the visit of Leeds this weekend.

“Ben (White) got injured against Manchester United, he felt a muscular problem and we checked him, and we will have to access him in the next few days to see how he is,” Arteta said to Arsenal’s club website.

“Bukayo (Saka) was fine, he was really fatigued and he has been through a little injury as well. (Takehiro) Tomiyasu has just that he had been out for so long and could not continue.”

Must not lose

As much as three points are desperately needed for Leeds right now, the last thing they can afford is to come away from the Emirates on Sunday afternoon with nothing to show for their efforts.

So while it might not be pretty or hugely positive in attitude, Marsch might be smart to set up in a defensive fashion and look to frustrate the hosts with resolute defending throughout the afternoon.

It doesn’t have to be park the bus level defensive attitude but to be hard to beat is the most important aspect of this weekend’s game.

The Whites have players in the squad who can produce that one moment of magic to win a game at the other end of the pitch but to do that, they need to know that their own backline is going to stand firm against a torrent of attacks.

It will be a huge test of character this weekend but come through it with at least a point in our pockets and we can carry some good momentum into the final trio of fixtures.

In other Leeds United news, this player who has an X-Factor about him could be heading for the Elland Road exit door in the summer.