Final team news has been provided for Leeds United’s visit of Premier League title favourites Arsenal - for which seven players are now back but amid three definite absentees and two more doubts.
The Whites and Gunners will meet for the second time this season in Saturday afternoon’s 3pm kick-off at Elland Road, five months on from August’s 5-0 win for Mikel Arteta’s side at the Emirates.
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 Daniel 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 key men out injured. Key men have also been missing for Arsenal but a total of seven men across both sides are now back for Saturday afternoon’s showdown in West Yorkshire for which three players are definitely out and two more doubtful.
The Gunners face a relatively tight turnaround for the trip to Leeds, just three days on from Wednesday night’s 3-2 win in the Champions League at home to Kazakhstan outfit Kairat Almaty.
Arteta and Farke have now both provided their final dose of team news and, here, we run through the injury news from both camps.
1. BACK: Jurrien Timber
Arsenal's Dutch international full-back Timber bagged two goals and an assist in August's win against the Whites but the 24-year-old was one two Gunners ruled out of the midweek Champions League clash due to a niggle. Arteta, though, revealed at Friday morning's press conference that Timber was now okay ahead of the trip to Leeds and refreshed having been carrying niggles. A massive boost for the Gunners and one of seven men back. | AFP via Getty Images
2. BACK: William Saliba
Arsenal's French international centre-back Saliba also missed the midweek Champions League clash with a niggle having also played the full match against Manchester United. He too, though, is now back in the mix for the weekend's trip to Leeds. Arteta said of Saliba and Timber: "They are okay. Obviously they have played a lot of minutes, they've been carrying a few niggles.It was a really good opportunity for us to offload them a little bit and refresh them.” | Getty Images
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3. BACK: Declan Rice
Gunners star Rice was one of two Arsenal players suspended for Wednesday night's Champions League clash who is now back available for the trip to Elland Road. | AFP via Getty Images
4. BACK: Mikel Merino
Arsenal's Spanish international forward Merino was also suspended for the midweek visit of Kairat but he too is back available to face the Whites. | AFP via Getty Images
5. BACK: Kai Havertz
Arsenal striker Havertz has been on the comeback trail from knee surgery following the injury suffered in August's clash against Manchester United and the German international missed the weekend's reverse fixture against the Red Devils having made a December return to action. Havertz, though, started Wednesday's game against Kairat and played the first 45 minutes which Arteta said was always the plan. Now back in the mix and a huge boost for the Gunners. | Bradley Collyer/PA Wire
6. BACK: Riccardo Calafiori
Arsenal's versatile Italian defender Calafiori had been out since just before Christmas with a muscular injury but the 23-year-old returned for Wednesday night's Champions League clash, playing the first half before being taken off. Another big Gunners boost. | Getty Images