Fresh team news has been provided for Leeds United’s huge next test at home to Arsenal - for which blows have left four men out and other three doubtful but with five others now back.
Five months on from August’s 5-0 defeat at the Emirates, Farke’s Whites will face Mikel Arteta’s Gunners for the second time this season in Saturday afternoon’s 3pm kick-off at Elland Road.
Arsenal looked every inch major title contenders in brushing side Leeds at the Emirates and that’s exactly how it’s proved, Arteta’s men still four points clear at the top of the table despite Sunday’s rare 3-2 home defeat to Manchester United.
August’s defeat at the Emirates left Leeds on just one point after two games played but a fine recent run of just one defeat in ten now has Farke’s newly-promoted side sat fifth-bottom and six points clear of the dropzone after 23 games played.
Leeds continued their good work with Monday night’s 1-1 draw at Everton, despite having three key men out injured.
Arsenal had also big players out for the weekend’s visit of the Red Devils and the Gunners had even more absentees to contend with as their busy schedule continued with Wednesday night’s Champions League clash at home to Kazakhstan outfit Kairat Almaty.
Fresh team news has since followed from both camps and, here, we run through the injury news from both sides.
7. BACK: Anton Stach
United's German midfielder Stach missed the recent hosting of Fulham due to an adductor injury but returned to training ahead of Monday night's trip to Everton which he started and played 85 minutes of. A huge boost. | Getty Images
![United's Slovenian international defender Bijol remains out with a hamstring injury but is nearing a return. Fake said on Thursday: "Jaka will definitely also miss the Arsenal game, he's progressing in his rehab. We hope to have him back probably on the other side of the Nottingham game, perhaps there's a little chance [for that game]."](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2026/01/29/14/11/GettyImages-2255129971.jpg?crop=4:3&trim=&width=800)
8. OUT: Jaka Bijol
United's Slovenian international defender Bijol remains out with a hamstring injury but is nearing a return. Fake said on Thursday: "Jaka will definitely also miss the Arsenal game, he's progressing in his rehab. We hope to have him back probably on the other side of the Nottingham game, perhaps there's a little chance [for that game]." | Getty Images
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9. OUT: Lukas Nmecha
A fresh blow, Whites boss Farke revealing at Thursday's pre-match press conference that German striker Nmecha reported problems with his hamstring in the warm-up at Everton and will definitely miss out against the Gunners. Farke is hoping the forward will be back for next Friday's hosting of Nottingham Forest. | Getty Images
10. OUT: Max Dowman
Arsenal's 16-year-old hot prospect attacking midfielder Dowman made a big impression from the bench in August's reverse fixture but the teen is still recovering from ankle ligament suffered last month when playing for the club's under-21s. Arteta has said the youngster is a few weeks away from returning. | AFP via Getty Images
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11. DOUBT: Dan James (but back in training)
Whites winger James has not featured since suffering a hamstring tendon in the 3-2 defeat at Manchester City at the end of November but James was part-integrated back into training ahead of Monday night's trip to Everton. Farke then revealed on Thursday that the winger was now back in training and had a chance to be selected but with the caveat of some mindful decisions being needed after such a long time out. Back but with obvious doubts then. | Getty Images
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12. DOUBT: Gabi Gudmundsson
Another doubt but better than being out, as was thought to be the case. First choice Leeds left back Gudmundsson was a doubt for Monday night's trip to Everton due to adductor problems and the Swede failed to make the matchday squad. Farke said post-match that the defender had suffered a little strain in his adductor and that initial assessment suggested three to four weeks out but that a second opinion offered hope that Gudmundsson might miss one or perhaps two games, but not more. Speaking on Thursday, Farke said Gudmundsson was still not team training but that he had progressed much better than expected and added that there was a "little chance" of making the game against Arsenal due to having two more days. | AFP via Getty Images