The Carabao Cup dishes up five all-Premier League clashes as the round of 16 gets underway this week. On Tuesday, Arsenal welcome Leeds United to the Emirates Stadium.
Seven points separate the two sides in the Premier League table, with seventeenth-place Leeds hovering just above the relegation zone.
That full-time feeling! 😍📺 Catch all the action and all the reaction in our latest edition of Bench Cam 👇#ARSAVL— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 24, 2021
That full-time feeling! 😍📺 Catch all the action and all the reaction in our latest edition of Bench Cam 👇#ARSAVL
Arsenal, on the other hand, have moved into the top half of the table following a string of positive results.
The Gunners head into Tuesday’s clash on a seven-game unbeaten streak in all competitions, having claimed five wins and two draws since their last loss.
After making a below-par start to the season, things are looking up for Mikel Arteta’s men, who crushed Aston Villa 3-1 last time out.
Not only have Arsenal avoided defeat in each of their last seven games, but they have also kept four clean sheets along the way.
They have also scored 13 goals in the process – netting over 1.5 goals on four occasions during that period.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (7 goals, 2 assists) has rediscovered some form this season, while Emile Smith Rowe (3 goals, 2 assists) has also impressed so far.
On the flip side, Leeds have only managed to win one of their nine Premier League encounters this term.
Marcelo Bielsa’s boys have already registered four draws and four losses in the Premier League, scoring eight goals while conceding 16.
Given that Leeds have one of the poorest defensive records in the division, it is no real surprise that they find themselves just outside the bottom three.
Bielsa’s side can take confidence form their previous performance, though, having scored a stoppage-time equaliser to frustrate Wolves.
If they pick up where they left off on Saturday, they should be able to cause Arsenal some problems on Tuesday.
Head-to-head: Leeds haven’t beaten Arsenal since all the way back in 2003. Since then, the Gunners have won seven of the nine meetings between the teams (2 draws).
Arteta’s side took four points from a possible six off Leeds last season, drawing 0-0 at Elland Road before winning 4-2 at the Emirates.
Team news: Arsenal will be without Granit Xhaka (knee) on Tuesday, while Kieran Tierney (ankle) is also an injury doubt for the hosts.
Leeds have a number of injury absentees at the moment, including Patrick Bamford, Raphina, Junior Firpo, Luke Ayling and Robin Koch.
Given the contrasting form of these two sides, Arsenal should extend their unbeaten streak to eight games on Tuesday.
Forebet predicts that Arsenal will score over 2.5 goals on their way to dispatching Leeds at the Emirates.