After a three-week hiatus due to the international break, Arsenal have had time to reflect on their 3-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion. Manager Mikel Arteta will be aiming to reset the team’s focus and address what went wrong in that setback.
Many expect the reigning Premier League champions to bounce back strongly against Leeds, matching their convincing results against the visitors in both home and away fixtures last season. However, Paul Merson has suggested that Leeds could hold the edge in this encounter.
Paul Merson explains Arsenal’s potential disadvantage against Leeds United
Despite the Brighton setback, Arsenal remain among the title contenders in the Premier League. The squad depth is widely regarded as one of the strongest in the division, and even with a few injuries sustained during the international break, the club is expected to cope without major issues.
This positions Arsenal as favorites to secure three points when Leeds travel to the Emirates for the early kickoff on Saturday. Yet, Merson believes Leeds could gain an advantage because several Gunners players were away on international duty during the break.
With reference to the timing of the match, Merson noted that many Arsenal players returned only recently and had limited time to train together, especially as kickoff is at 12:30 pm on Saturday. He described this as a potential leveling factor that could benefit Leeds.
Arsenal cannot use the early kickoff as an excuse against Leeds
While a late return from international duty and a lack of full training time present challenges, they should not be used as excuses. Although the defeat to Brighton has been framed by some as a blip, losing again to Leeds at the Emirates would raise serious questions about the team’s readiness and consistency.
Arteta will surely prepare his squad for the match, including those who have only just returned from international duty, and the Gunners will be aiming to collect three points in front of their home supporters.
