Leeds ‘down to nine senior players’ vs Arsenal but Premier League fixture goes ahead

Tuchel previews Chelsea's Premier League clash with Wolves

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Leeds are said to have just nine senior players available to face Arsenal in the only Premier League fixture currently set to go ahead on Saturday. COVID-19 has threatened to ruin this round of matches after Aston Villa vs Burnley became the sixth game of the weekend to fall foul this afternoon following new positive cases in the home dressing room.

But as things stand, Leeds vs Arsenal looks to have the green light to go ahead at 5.30pm at Elland Road.

Yet the Whites are going to have to name a scratch squad as they look to cause an upset against the high-flying Gunners.

That’s because according to Football.London, they have just nine senior players available for the contest.

Charlie Cresswell has reportedly dislocated his shoulder in training in another cruel blow for Leeds.

It means Marcelo Bielsa may have to name a young side to face the Gunners, a challenge he is expected to take in his stride.

Leeds were thrashed 7-0 on Tuesday night at Manchester City with their squad already feeling the impact of several high-profile injuries.

Yet the situation has only deteriorated since then meaning the Whites will be looking to rely on their 12th man in order to dig out a result.

Speaking during a tense press conference, Bielsa made it clear he did not want to face teams that were hampered by COVID-19.

“I wouldn’t like to come up against a team who has their team depleted due to COVID. I wouldn’t like to take advantage of that,” he said.

He was then asked whether the postponements affect the integrity of the division, adding: “With respect to the other things about your question and the authorities are the ones who have the information to make those types of decisions.”

Arsenal are not thought to be struggling with any COVID-19 cases of their own.

Earlier this week, Mikel Arteta urged the Premier League to provide clarity on the guidelines surrounding postponements.

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“We need much more clarity about why games are not getting played and what is needed not to play a game. We are all playing in the same league and the most important thing is that, within this context, we are able to maintain the fairness of the competition,” he said.

“For me this is a big thing now. We always want to play when we have the right conditions to do so, 100 per cent. We have been here on the other side of the table when we had all of the arguments in the world not to play a football match and we ended up playing it.

“We need clarity because otherwise the fairness of the competition can be altered and that wouldn’t be fair.”

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