Arsenal vs Leeds United 07/01/20

7 January 2020

Arsenal and Leeds United will face off in the FA Cup round of 32 at the Emirates Stadium this week, which will be their first competitive meeting since 2012.

The hosts brought their five-game winless run in all competitions to an end with a comfortable 2-0 home win over Manchester United last time out and will be looking to carry that momentum in this fixture. In fact, that victory over United was Arsenal’s first home success since late October, with Mikel Arteta’s men also keeping a home clean sheet for the first time after eight straight matches. Arsenal’s immense defensive problems have seen them concede over 1.5 match goals in seven of their last nine competitive home games. But, the Gunners are odds-on favorites, nonetheless, especially considering that they’ve outplayed Leeds in two of their previous three competitive H2Hs held here (W2, D1). Importantly for the home fans, the North Londoners have kept a clean sheet on two of those occasions.

Meanwhile, the visitors’ significant dip in form has seen them collect just one triumph in their last five competitive games (W1, D3, L1) after winning seven consecutive matches. Virtually unstoppable in the final third, the Whites have netted 2+ match goals in eight of their last 12 fixtures, scoring precisely one goal per game in the other four. Moreover, Marcelo Bielsa’s men have suffered just one defeat in their past eight road trips (W4, D3, L1), with five of those games featuring under 2.5 goals. Leeds’ game usually sparks into action after the break, with 16 of their last 19 away goals scored coming in the second half. Also, six of their nine away victories this season have been accompanied by a blank sheet, with Leeds breaking the deadlock in the other three too.