With or without Eberechi Eze pulling the creative strings, Arsenal host newly-promoted Leeds United on Saturday evening, in their opening home game of the new Premier League campaign.
Both Mikel Arteta and Daniel Farke masterminded 1-0 victories last time out, as the Gunners claimed a smash-and-grab victory at Manchester United before the Whites benefitted from a contentious handball call to edge out Everton.
Picking up from where they left off in 2024-25, Arsenal are on a three-game winning run in the Premier League, although all of those victories have only been by a solitary goal; furthermore, their last top-flight home win by two goals or more came over six months ago in the 5-1 thumping of Manchester City.
Nevertheless, even a slender success will see Arsenal etch their name into a new page of the record books; the Gunners are unbeaten in 42 straight Premier League home games against newly-promoted sides, one short of the all-time best set by Chelsea from 2001 to 2015.
The shock of all shocks in North London this weekend would see Leeds win their opening two top-flight matches of a season for the first time since 2002, but visits to the capital are often unfruitful; they have lost their last seven Premier League matches played in London.
The Gunners should click into gear back on their own turf, where they ought to break Leeds’ resistance early and subsequently capitalise on defensive gaps opening up when Farke’s men go in search of a response.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
