Leeds Vs Arsenal
Leeds Vs Arsenal Saturday, 18 December 2021 – 17:30 (GMT)
English Premier League
Pick: Arsenal to WIN
Odds: 23/20
Bookmaker: Coral
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 16 December 2021)
Preview: Since their promotion to the Premier League last season, Leeds are yet to lose three consecutive matches in the competition. So ahead of the visit of European chasing Arsenal, can Saturday’s hosts at Elland Road avoid setting another unwanted record?
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Table of Contents
Leeds – Whites needs Elland Road support more than ever?
Morale in the Leeds dressing room is presumably at a season low after Tuesday’s demoralising 7-0 defeat away to Man City. Marcelo Bielsa described the performance as the worst he had seen since signing on as their manager in June 2018, with the defending in particular, or lack thereof, on show abysmal throughout. It marked the club’s joint-biggest loss, in terms of scoreline, in a century.
Not even Raphinha, who has been the one ray of light in an otherwise grim campaign that has featured just three league wins in 17 games (D7 L7), could muster up the desired magic which has so often dragged the Whites out of many unfavourable predicaments. The Brazilian would, however, hold his nerve to convert a 94th minute penalty to earn his team their sole win across the last seven matchdays.
That was here at Elland Road against Crystal Palace, extending their unbeaten run in West Yorkshire to five (W2 D3), and was the third goal Leeds have scored in the 90th minute or later at home this season, with these strikes worth five points. Without them, Bielsa’s men would effectively be in the relegation zone. Instead they approach Gameweek 18 – for them at least – five points clear of danger.
Arsenal – Arteta yet to resolve inconsistent away form?
Early on in the season it seemed like this was a team that couldn’t be any further from qualifying for the Champions League. Not any longer. Wednesday’s impressive performance in their 2-0 victory over West Ham provided the latest statement of their intent to finish among the top four, convincingly beating – and subsequently replacing – the team who had begun the midweek action in fourth place.
Not even a third missed penalty in succession, this time via Alexandre Lacazette, could scupper the Gunners’ momentum, as they ended a day in the Premier League top four for the first time in 425 days. In doing so they recorded win number five in a row at the Emirates, the last four achieved without conceding a goal. If only they could get somewhere close to replicating this form outside of North London.
Away from home, Arsenal have won only twice (versus Burnley and Leicester) in eight attempts so far this season (D1 L5) and lost each of the previous three (vs Everton, Liverpool and Man Utd) despite opening the scoring at Goodison Park and Old Trafford. They’ve allowed nine goals to be conceded during this losing stretch. Of these, seven arrived in the second half while five were either on or after the 70th minute.
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Leeds Vs Arsenal Betting Advice
What we have here are teams who perform considerably better when at home. Fortunately for Leeds it is they who are blessed with such a fixture this weekend. The Whites are unbeaten in five at Elland Road, losing just twice here all season (W2 D4 L2) – to quality opposition no less in Liverpool and West Ham. Meanwhile, Arsenal boast a modest two wins from eight away fixtures (D1 L5) having lost each of the last three.
Leeds Vs Arsenal – Key Facts:
- A crushing 7-0 loss at Man City during the midweek means Leeds have conceded 12 times across their past three fixtures (D1 L2), though they are unbeaten at home in five (W2 D3).
- Wednesday’s 2-0 victory at home to West Ham continued Arsenal’s impressive form at the Emirates. Away from home, however, they are striving to avoid a fourth successive defeat.
- Arsenal are unbeaten in ten versus Leeds across all competitions (W8 D2), last losing at Elland Road in in November 2000 (W4 D2 thereafter).
Ordinarily then we would want to get the hosts on side. However, not only are Leeds blighted by injuries, but they were rotten in midweek. That it was against the league leaders, Man City, still doesn’t justify how bad the performance was. It stunk! Conversely, Arsenal will be on a high, while Mikel Arteta boasts something his opposite number can only dream of right now: a clean bill of health among his squad.
Best Betting Odds – Leeds Vs Arsenal
Leeds – 12/5 (PaddyPower)
Draw – 5/2(BetVictor)
Arsenal – 23/20 (Coral)
