Leeds Utd v Arsenal Match Thread - Raphinha, Phillips and Alioski start, Rodrigo makes the bench by

[Ellandback1]

Sunday 22nd November 4:30pm | Elland Road | Live on Sky Sports


Having suffered crushing back to back defeats at the hands of Leicester City and Crystal Palace, Leeds will be relieved that record signing Rodrigo has completed his quarantine following a positive Covid-19 test, and is fit to feature against the Gunners on Sunday afternoon. Furthermore Kalvin Phillips has recovered from the shoulder injury picked up against Wolves and is likely to return to the starting eleven. Phillips has been a big miss for Leeds over the past two games, his ability to break down opposition plays and stop the counter attack was missed against Leicester and Palace.

Spanish International Llorente had returned after a month on the side-lines following the muscle injury he picked up on international duty however he suffered a small setback. He is now back in training again but unlikely to be part of the squad this weekend. Robin Koch will likely play alongside Liam Cooper in the centre of defence but will have to get over an absolute nightmare of a game midweek for Germany, as they were hammered 6-0 by Spain. Long term casualty Adam Forshaw is finally injury free, but expect him to feature in at least one U23 game before any first team appearances!

Marcelo Bielsa and talisman Pablo Hernandez are understood to have patched up their differences, but the Spaniard has picked up an injury and will be absent this weekend. With Rodrigo not 100% it could mean a first start for Brazilian sensation Raphinha who has impressed in substitute appearances.





Gunners defender Sead Kolasinac joins midfielder Mohamed Elneny in quarantine for seven days, having both tested positive for Covid-19. Thomas Partey is also missing from Mikel Arteta’s squad, the Ghanaian international having picked up an injury very early in Arsenal’s game against Aston Villa. Up font Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has looked a shadow of his usual self just three goals in all competitions and whilst Alexandre Lacazette started the season with a bang, scoring in three consecutive matches he has looked off the pace recently.

It might mean Mikel Arteta might change things up this weekend and he could do just that after Reiss Nelson was left out of Arsenal's Under-23 squad to face Everton on Friday. Eddie Nketiah may also feature against his former loanee club having scored another brace for England U21's midweek.

The Premier League have appointed Anthony Taylor to referee the clash between the two giants. Taylor officiated the last time the two sides met back in January of this year in he FA Cup. He was also in charge of second round of the play off against Derby County (lets not even go there)! Leeds won their first game in almost a decade with Taylor officiating earlier this season when the Whites make heavy weather of beating Fulham 4-3 earlier this season.


Leeds Starting XI
Meslier, Ayling, Koch, Cooper, Dallas, Phillips, Klich, Alioski, Raphinha, Harrison, Bamford

Subs: Casilla, Struijk, Davis, Rodrigo, Costa, Roberts, Poveda

[1964white]

Rodrigo, Raphinha, Hernandez & Phillips (if fit) have to start.

Unfortunately it would be too soon & a massive risk to include Llorente.

We have to be less sentimental & getaway from playing our championship side, no disrespect to the players who contributed greatly to achieving promotion but the premier league is a different level so we need to play our quality players

The first XI I'd be hoping for is.......

...............................Meslier..................................................

Ayling......Koch......Cooper (Llorente when fit)......Dallas

...............................Phillips...................................................

Hernandez............Klich.............Rodrigo............Raphinha

..............................Bamford.................................................


Those four additions should make a huge difference to our performances/results. (five when Llorente is fit)

There's a good reason why we spent £33m on centre-backs

[White Riot]

I'm hoping MB will have kissed and made up with Pablo?
But time will tell.

The team I would play (if they're fit and available) would be:

Meslier
Ayling Koch Cooper Davis
Phillips
Raphinha Klich Rodrigo Harrison
Bamford

Subs: El Clowno, Dallas, Struijk, Costa, Pablo, Gelhardt, Shackleton

We need to start strong, get an early goal and get back to winning ways. I expect Arsenal will sit back and follow the counter attack model that's been successful against us.

[Ellandback1]

Rodrigo, Raphinha, Hernandez & Phillips (if fit) have to start.

Unfortunately it would be too soon & a massive risk to include Llorente.

We have to be less sentimental & getaway from playing our championship side, no disrespect to the players who contributed greatly to achieving promotion but the premier league is a different level so we need to play our quality players

The first XI I'd be hoping for is.......

...............................Meslier..................................................

Ayling......Koch......Cooper (Llorente when fit)......Dallas

...............................Phillips...................................................

Hernandez............Klich.............Rodrigo............Raphinha

..............................Bamford.................................................


Those four additions should make a huge difference to our performances/results. (five when Llorente is fit)

There's a good reason why we spent £33m on centre-backs

I feel Cooper is one of Bielsa's favourites and will persevere with him.

[1964white]

I feel Cooper is one of Bielsa's favourites and will persevere with him.

For now Bielsa has no other choice Matt, time will tell as the season draws on.

Ironically the best CB performance has come from our RB at Villa, Ayling was immense at the back

[Allrounder]

Pardon my ignorance, but what is the issue between Bielsa and Pablo?

[1964white]

Pardon my ignorance, but what is the issue between Bielsa and Pablo?

Bielsa subbed Pablo just as he was getting us back into the game v Leicester, Pablo had almost scored the equaliser out of his own making only to see his shot hit the crossbar. Our talisman showed disrespect by waving his arm in the air in his annoyance with the decision, apparently he also kicked a object near the dugout. The inept Roberts replaced him & the game was over in a instance!

I'd have been annoyed too, at least Pablo has some fire in his belly

[Smudge3920]

Bielsa subbed Pablo just as he was getting us back into the game v Leicester, Pablo had almost scored the equaliser out of his own making only to see his shot hit the crossbar. Our talisman showed disrespect by waving his arm in the air in his annoyance with the decision, apparently he also kicked a object near the dugout. The inept Roberts replaced him & the game was over in a instance!

I'd have been annoyed too, at least Pablo has some fire in his belly

The big one was he ripped his armband off Leon and threw it away... the rememberance day armband ... very disrespectful ...

[whiteswan]

Bielsa subbed Pablo just as he was getting us back into the game v Leicester, Pablo had almost scored the equaliser out of his own making only to see his shot hit the crossbar. Our talisman showed disrespect by waving his arm in the air in his annoyance with the decision, apparently he also kicked a object near the dugout. The inept Roberts replaced him & the game was over in a instance!

I'd have been annoyed too, at least Pablo has some fire in his belly

Pablo shouldn't have reacted that way in being subbed. Rightly or wrongly, Bielsa is the boss, no place for petulance.

[Chilli D]

Pablo shouldn't have reacted that way in being subbed. Rightly or wrongly, Bielsa is the boss, no place for petulance.

I agree Swannie.
Be disappointed, discuss it with MB privately, and then prove him wrong in the next game.
All his petulance did was get him left out of the next squad. That is no good to anyone.

[Cjay]

Arsenal have quite a few unavailable.

Mohamed Elneny is out with Covid.

Sead Kolasinac is out with covid.

Thomas Partey is injured.

And Luiz punched Ceballos on the nose.

[1964white]

Basically our championship side to face Arsenal on Sunday


Phillips fit enough to start?

It’s probable. I can’t guarantee it, but it’s probable.

Rodrigo too?

Less likely he will start, but he will be there.

Pablo

We add Pablo to the injury list as he picked up a muscular injury during this break. Nothing serious, but he won’t be able to play this weekend.

Llorente

What happened with Llorente was he was injured, recovered and had a relapse in training. He is now cured, but because of the relapse he is being given extra time to fully get back to be sure.

[1964white]

Pablo

Jackanory, Jackanory, Jackanory

[Irish Ian]

Without Rod and Pablo starring does that mean Roberts does?

[Cjay]

Llorente is starting to worry me.

He missed 9 games through injury last season.

15 the year before.

There was a whisper that he is a bit injury prone which isnt going away.

Its also still a bit odd that if you read reports on him it specifically says he struggles as a left sided cb which is the side we required a replacement.

Early days but the injury record is a concern.

[Cjay]

Without Rod and Pablo starring does that mean Roberts does?

Raph surely?

Cant see why Rodders cant start, i really think he is the biggest loss the last 2 games in hindsight.

[Irish Ian]

Raph surely?

Cant see why Rodders cant start, i really think he is the biggest loss the last 2 games in hindsight.

Be great to see whay Raph can do, he needs a run in the team, just like Rodders.

[WestgateRun]

I worry about Koch's confidence.
He has been part of defences that have conceded 16 goals in the last 3 games.

Personally, I would settle for a boring 0-0 draw. Just to stabilise things a little.

[Irish Ian]

I worry about Koch's confidence.
He has been part of defences that have conceded 16 goals in the last 3 games.

Personally, I would settle for a boring 0-0 draw. Just to stabilise things a little.

Id settle for a clean sheet and a point as well mate.


Regarding confidence, Dallas came through a week where he was battered by Haaland and Salah shipping nine goals.

But he was ok in the end

[1964white]

Without Rod and Pablo starring does that mean Roberts does?

With Shackleton injured too I would say his selection is highly likely unfortunately, doesn't fill me with confidence!

I still can't believe we are having to start with players whom couldn't get into our championship first XI on a regular basis