Leeds United predicted line-up vs Arsenal with striker out, Facundo Buonanotte decision & Sean Longstaff call

Leeds United’s predicted line-up for Saturday’s visit of title favourites Arsenal.

Leeds United host title favourites Arsenal in the next game of their Premier League survival bid - and this is how we think the Whites will line up.

The Whites and Gunners will lock horns for the second time this season in Saturday afternoon’s 3pm kick-off at Elland Road, five months on from United’s 5-0 hammering at the Emirates in August’s second game of the season.

Twenty one games later, though, Leeds have lost just one of their last ten league games, the Whites continuing their good recent work with Monday night’s 1-1 draw at Everton.

Boss Daniel Farke made two changes to his team for the clash against the Toffees, one of them forced as left back Gabi Gudmundsson missed out due to an adductor strain.

With centre-back Jaka Bijol also still out, that meant Sebastiaan Bornauw being brought into the three-man centre-back axis alongside Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk as James Justin and Jayden Bogle filled the full back positions.

The second change saw the back-from-injury Anton Stach brought back into the midfield alongside Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev as Noah Okafor dropped back to the bench.

That meant a more advanced role for Brenden Aaronson just behind striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin as fellow forward Lukas Nmecha and also January loan signing Facundo Buonanotte sat on the bench.

Nmecha, though, reported hamstring problems in the warm up and has since been ruled out of the weekend’s visit of Arsenal for which Gudmundsson is doubtful and Bijol still out.

Dan James is now back in training upon recovering from his hamstring tendon injury but with Farke having warned that it will take time for the winger to be fully ready.

But Brighton loanee Buonanotte is still awaiting his first start and Farke also has a big decision to make in midfield with Gruev replaced by Ao Tanaka as his first change in the 66th minute of the 1-1 draw at Everton and the fit-again Sean Longstaff now back in the mix.

The Whites boss also has to decide whether Lucas Perri returns in goal or if Karl Darlow keeps his place for a third game in a row.

There is plenty to ponder and this is the XI that we think Farke will send out against the Gunners.

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