Arsenal face Leeds United next after the international break with the Gunners looking to win their 23rd Premier League game of the season as they currently sit top of the Premier League table with ten games to go.
Arsenal are currently eight points clear of title challengers, Manchester City, however Pep Guardiola’s side do have a game in hand on the Gunners.
Arsenal host Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday the 1st April in a 3pm kick-off.
Mikel Arteta’s side won the same fixture 2-1 at the end of last season with Eddie Nketiah scoring both goals for Arsenal & they’ll be looking for a similar result this time around.
Eddie Nketiah celebrating in the reverse fixture last season against Leeds United. [Image Credit: Getty Images]
Arsenal are of course favourites going into the game, with Leeds United sitting in 14th, just two points above the relegation zone. Both teams will be desperate for the points, but with Arsenal at home & with the quality they possess, there’s no doubt they’ll be looking to make it a routine victory on Saturday.
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However Leeds’ left-back, Junior Firpo disagrees with the fact Arsenal are favourites and he thinks Mikel Arteta’s team will need to play “unbelievably well” to win the game next weekend.
Leeds’ Junior Firpo on Arsenal v Leeds United next week:
“At home against Arsenal we did an amazing game as well, so no fear. We will go for the three points. They will need to make unbelievable actions if they want to beat us.”
Although Arsenal won the reverse fixture at Elland Road earlier on in the season, he’s not wrong when he says Leeds played an amazing game that day.
Arsenal won the game 1-0, thanks to a Bukayo Saka first-half goal. However Leeds piled on the pressure towards the end of the game, with shot after shot heading towards Aaron Ramsdale’s goal. Arsenal stood firm until the 90th minute when the referee awarded Leeds a penalty & Gabriel a red card for lashing out at Patrick Bamford.
Gabriel was seen laughing as the decision was made & the Brazilian was proved right as the replays showed Bamford pushed Gabriel, rather than the other way around. Bamford made the most of it. VAR intervened, Gabriel stayed on the pitch and Arsenal ended up taking all three points back to North London.
Gabriel’s reaction as he was shown a red card in the fixture earlier this season. [Image Credit: Getty Images]
Arsenal won, just, but it wasn’t easy & Mikel Arteta will definitely be hoping for a more routine victory this time around, at the Emirates Stadium. Although Junior Firpo doesn’t think so…
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