How Arsenal could line up against Leeds United

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's exclusion from the Arsenal first team is expected to extend to a third game when the Gunners take on Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday.

The Gabon international was dropped for the 3-0 win over Southampton due to a "disciplinary breach", and then stripped of the captaincy ahead of Wednesday's 2-0 triumph over West Ham United.

The decision to omit Aubameyang, who scored a hat-trick in Arsenal's last league meeting with Leeds, has been made easier for Mikel Arteta by the Gunners' form without him, and as such the manager may look to limit changes on Saturday despite another quick turnaround in fixtures.

Arteta is likely to view Tuesday's EFL Cup match against Sunderland as a better opportunity to rest key men and hand starts to the fringe players pushing for more football.

Emile Smith Rowe is one player who could come into the XI for this weekend's match, having come off the bench to score the second against West Ham in midweek.

Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring in that game and would ordinarily be hopeful of keeping his place, but he came off with a knock and so may be rested for this match.

Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares will also be pushing for starts, but they along with Nicolas Pepe and Eddie Nketiah may be forced to wait until next week.

Unlike their opponents, Arsenal's injury situation is relatively good at the moment, with Bernd Leno and Sead Kolasinac their only absentees.

The Gunners have also so far steered clear of the coronavirus crisis engulfing the Premier League, although that situation is changing on an hourly basis.

Arsenal possible starting lineup: Ramsdale; Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey, Xhaka; Saka, Odegaard, Smith Rowe; Lacazette