Arsenal host Leeds United at the Emirates on 10 October 2026 in Matchweek 6, with kick off at 12:30pm BST. The reigning champions sit second with 12 points from five games after a narrow defeat at Brighton ended their perfect start, whereas Leeds occupy fifth on nine points and remain unbeaten. Arsenal trail Manchester City by three points and badly need a convincing home performance here, Leeds, who have conceded the fewest goals in the division, arrive looking to prove they can take something off a side that has dominated this fixture for years.
Arteta holds a perfect 4-0 record against Daniel Farke in Premier League meetings, having handled Farke's organised setups comfortably every time they have met since the Leeds manager took charge in July 2023. That record is consistent enough to go beyond coincidence: Arteta simply seems to have the answers for what Farke sets up and that shapes expectations here more than most managerial head to head records would.
Arsenal come in with four wins and one loss in their last five league outings, a run that includes a 3-0 home win over Brighton in September before the reverse at the Amex. Their home performances have been built on high possession and a willingness to press opponents into mistakes. Leeds arrive unbeaten having ground out draws and narrow wins and much of this game will come down to whether Arsenal can turn sustained possession into actual chances before Leeds find a moment to punish them.
Arsenal's injury situation is the main story coming in. William Saliba is out long term with a back injury and the doubts over Declan Rice (thigh), Kai Havertz (hip and hamstring), Ben White (groin) and Ezri Konsa pile disruption onto disruption, with Christos Tzolis also absent through a hamstring problem. The gaps hit defence and midfield simultaneously, which is about as awkward a set of absences as Arteta could have drawn up ahead of a home game he needs to win.
Leeds carry their own disruptions. Joe Rodon and Mateo Joseph are both out, the latter long term with a knee and ACL injury, while Daniel James is unavailable through a back issue and Harry Wilson and Jean-Matteo Bahoya both carry doubts into the week. Farke's options in wide areas and central defence are thinned out, which matters when Leeds rely so heavily on structure and specific personnel to run their system.
Without Saliba and potentially without Rice, Arsenal's shape shifts considerably. Ødegaard will need to drop deeper to provide the midfield control Rice usually handles, which limits the freedom he would normally have to connect with Bukayo Saka in the half spaces. Saka remains the most dangerous player on the pitch when given room and Viktor Gyökeres will look to stretch Leeds' backline through runs in behind rather than holding up play. Arteta will likely set up more compactly than usual given the defensive uncertainty, though the intent to play out from the back probably stays.
Leeds will look to use Dominic Calvert-Lewin as the first contact point for direct balls forward, with Ethan Ampadu anchoring the midfield to allow those transitions and James Trafford's distribution from goal central to how they move the ball quickly into space. The absences of Rodon and Joseph remove cover across the backline, leaving Leeds more reliant on set pieces, where they have already shown a real threat this season.
Saka against Leeds' right back is the battle to watch and if he can isolate his man and deliver early, Ødegaard's runs into the box become a problem Farke's defence has not yet had to solve this season. Calvert-Lewin, meanwhile, will test whoever fills in at centre back for Arsenal, because Leeds will invite pressure and wait for one good moment on the counter.
Arsenal have won nine of the last ten Premier League meetings between these sides and Arteta's 4-0 personal record against Farke sits within that pattern rather than against it. Nine wins from ten makes the history of this matchup about as one-sided as Premier League fixtures get.
Leeds' set piece threat is worth watching given Arsenal's defensive disruption. Losing Saliba at the back, with White and Konsa also uncertain, means the home side may struggle to deal with deliveries into the box as effectively as usual. Ødegaard is reliable from dead balls at the other end and with open play likely to be tight, set pieces from Ødegaard become one of the more dependable routes to goal Arsenal have available.
Arsenal 2-0 Leeds United. The 4-0 head to head record against Farke, home advantage and Leeds' thinned out defensive options all favour the same outcome. Gyökeres will run in behind, Saka will target the full back and Ødegaard, without Rice beside him, will need to cover considerably more ground than usual in midfield while remaining Arsenal's primary creative outlet. Leeds have the best defensive record in the division but holding a clean sheet at the Emirates without Rodon and with limited cover off the bench is a taller order than their five game unbeaten start might suggest.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
