Arsenal v Leeds United – My Take (23/08/25)
Image from Leeds United
Here we go again. Leeds back in the Premier League, and the fixture list has thrown us straight into the fire: away at Arsenal. Not exactly the one you’d pick if you wanted a nice, steady start to the season. But this is Leeds, and nothing’s ever straightforward.
Where We’re At
That win against Everton on Monday gave us something to cling to — a clean sheet, a grafted goal, and a reminder that Farke has us organised. It wasn’t pretty, but it didn’t need to be. Right now, points are all that matter.
The bad news? Ethan Ampadu is out injured. That’s a huge blow. He’s the skipper, the heartbeat, the one who calms everything down in the middle. Without him, it’s going to feel strange. The good news is we may get our first proper look at Noah Okafor, and I’m excited. He’s quick, direct, and if he gets at their back four, he can make life awkward for them.
Arsenal’s Situation
Arsenal will still be heavy favourites, no doubt about it. They’ve got quality everywhere and a home crowd expecting them to roll us over. But they’re not full strength either — Kai Havertz, Ben White, and Christian Nørgaard are all missing. That’s a big chunk of their spine gone. Sure, they’ll still dominate the ball, but there are cracks to be exploited if we’re brave enough.
What Leeds Need To Do
Stay solid early on. If we gift Arsenal a goal in the first 15 minutes, it’s curtains. We’ve got to frustrate them, make their fans restless.
Use our pace. Okafor and Gnonto on the break could be massive. Arsenal hate being turned around.
Play to Calvert-Lewin’s strengths. If we can sling a few crosses in and make him a nuisance, we’ve got a chance of nicking something.
Midfield discipline. Without Ampadu, Stach and the others have to hold their nerve. No silly mistakes.
The Reality Check
Look, the history isn’t kind. We haven’t beaten Arsenal in the league since 2003. The Emirates isn’t a happy hunting ground, and promoted sides don’t usually walk away with much there. If you’re betting with your head, it’s Arsenal all day long.
But football isn’t played on stats alone. Arsenal are missing players, Leeds have nothing to lose, and if we show the fight we saw against Everton, we can make a game of it.
My Prediction:
Heart says we sneak a draw, head says Arsenal grind it out. So I’ll be realistic:
Arsenal 2–0 Leeds.
But if Okafor explodes on debut or Calvert-Lewin/Piroe/Nmecha get the better of their defence, don’t be shocked if we walk away with a point.
Written by Lucy
