Mikel Arteta is sent an instruction on Viktor Gyokeres’s involvement for Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Leeds United on Saturday evening following Kai Havertz’s injury.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta should be looking to give Viktor Gyokeres as much time as possible on the field in Saturday’s Premier League clash with Leeds United, expert Charles Watts has told Sports Mole.
The Gunners will endeavour to make it two for two in the 5.30pm kickoff after edging out Manchester United 1-0 last weekend, shortly before the Whites prevailed by the same scoreline against Everton on their top-flight return.
It has been over 20 years since Arsenal were last defeated in any competition by Leeds, whose last success in this fixture came at Highbury in 2003, but it has also been over six months since the Gunners won a Premier League home game by more than one goal.
The last time Mikel Arteta’s men achieved that feat came against Manchester City in February, but Watts does not feel that Arsenal can go into the contest thinking that they must prevail by two goals or more.
“I don’t know if you could go into any Premier League game thinking it has to be that,” Watts said. “It would be nice to be that. I’d like Arsenal to turn in a performance we saw in the Emirates Cup, which shows this team can absolutely play very, very well and score some really good goals.
“That’s why I’m not overly concerned by what we saw at Old Trafford. It’d be nice to go there and put on a show; the fans would love that. Saturday evening, 5.30 p.m kickoff. Everyone’s going to be in town early. Everyone’s going to be in a pretty boisterous mood.
Arsenal ‘expected to produce’ in Leeds Premier League clash
“It’s always a good atmosphere when Leeds are in town as well. If you’re sitting there with six points from six going up to Anfield next, you’re feeling pretty good about yourself. It’s an important game this for Arsenal, no doubt about it.
“After what we saw at Old Trafford, everyone’s going to be looking at us and saying, what can you produce here against a newly promoted side? There’s going to be a lot of eyes on the performance at the weekend, and I feel like Arsenal will produce.”
As has often been the case throughout the past couple of seasons, Arsenal relied on their set-piece specialities to get them over the line at Old Trafford, where new signing Gyokeres endured an underwhelming debut and was taken off with just an hour gone.
However, it has now emerged that Kai Havertz has suffered a knee injury of unspecified severity, so Gyokeres will almost certainly reprise his role in the first XI, unless Arteta unexpectedly starts Leandro Trossard or Gabriel Martinelli as the central striker.
Further back, Ben White is a fresh doubt after picking up a knock in the win over Man United – potentially opening the door for Jurrien Timber to come in – while Myles Lewis-Skelly and last weekend’s match-winner Riccardo Calafiori are battling for left-back minutes.
Gyokeres needs ‘as much time as possible’ in Arsenal vs. Leeds
Speaking before news of Havertz and White’s injuries broke, Watts backed Arteta to stick with the same starting XI and implored the Gunners boss to give Gyokeres as many minutes as he could handle against Leeds.
“I think he’ll keep the same XI, I’d be surprised if he doesn’t,” Watts said. “Timber could easily be right back, he could easily play Lewis-Skelly. But I feel like he needs to keep the same team here. I don’t feel like it has to be ripped up after one fairly underwhelming performance.
“Gyokeres, it’s really important that you give as much time as you possibly can, just to get used to everyone and for him to get used to them. Last time at the Emirates, Arsenal played really well with that team, scored three great goals, Gyokeres played well.
“Unless there’s an injury that we don’t know about. I’d be sticking with the same team.”
Arsenal could potentially announce the signing of Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace before kickoff on Saturday, but the 27-year-old will not make his debut against Leeds, as the Gunners did not complete the deal before Friday’s 12pm deadline.
> Click here to listen to the full preview of Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Leeds
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