“Havertz and Gyokeres Start Together Again!” — Arteta Names Strong Arsenal XI for Leeds Clash
After their starring roles against Kairat Almaty, Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres retain their places as Arteta makes nine changes for the Premier League trip to Elland Road.
Mikel Arteta has confirmed his starting XI for today’s Premier League clash against Leeds United, making nine changes from the side that played in midweek, but retaining Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz, who were both influential in Arsenal’s 3-2 victory over Kairat Almaty.
The German midfielder and Swedish forward will start together once again after their productive partnership in midweek. Havertz assisted Gyokeres for the opening goal before getting on the scoresheet himself, prompting Arteta to keep faith in the duo for the trip to Elland Road. This marks Havertz’s first Premier League start since Arsenal’s 5-1 demolition of Manchester City almost exactly one year ago.
The rest of the Arsenal side has been rotated heavily from the midweek fixture against Kairat, with Arteta reverting to a lineup closer to his preferred XI. David Raya starts in goal behind a back four of Piero Hincapie, Gabriel, William Saliba, and Jurrien Timber.
In midfield, Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice return to provide stability, while Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard are tasked with supplying pace and width on the flanks.
On the bench, Arteta has named several key options, including Kepa Arrizabalaga, Ben White, Riccardo Calafiori, Cristhian Mosquera, Ebere Eze, Noni Madueke, and Gabriel Martinelli. Club captain Martin Odegaard also begins on the bench as Arteta continues to manage his workload carefully ahead of a busy few weeks.
Arsenal Starting XI vs Leeds United:
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice; Havertz, Saka, Trossard; Gyokeres.
Substitutes: Arrizabalaga, White, Calafiori, Mosquera, Odegaard, Eze, Madueke, Martinelli, Jesus.
🚨 Confirmed: The Arsenal XI vs Leeds United. ✅
Thoughts on the lineup, Gooners? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/ENtMoRIDjE
— DailyAFC (@DailyAFC) January 31, 2026
Arteta’s selection demonstrates a balance between experience and youth, blending players returning from injury with those who have recently impressed. Havertz’s return to the Premier League starting XI is particularly noteworthy, as he brings creativity and attacking threat to complement Gyokeres’ physicality and movement upfront.
The decision to rotate heavily against Kairat allowed key starters to rest while still securing a win, showing Arteta’s ability to manage his squad effectively across competitions. With Arsenal looking to maintain their four-point lead at the top of the Premier League, securing a result against Leeds will be vital to continuing their strong run in domestic competition.
Meanwhile, players like Kepa, Martinelli, and Odegaard provide quality options from the bench, ensuring Arsenal can adapt during the game depending on circumstances. Arteta’s strategy of integrating returning stars while managing minutes carefully reflects a long-term approach to competing on multiple fronts this season.
Today’s lineup also highlights Arsenal’s defensive depth, with Saliba and Timber forming a reliable partnership at the back alongside Gabriel and Hincapie. The midfield duo of Zubimendi and Rice will be essential in controlling possession and breaking up Leeds’ attacks, allowing Saka, Trossard, Havertz, and Gyokeres to focus on creating goal-scoring opportunities.
Fans will be eager to see how the returning stars perform, particularly Havertz, who has not started in the league for nearly 12 months. His partnership with Gyokeres could prove pivotal if Arsenal are to secure maximum points away from home.
With the likes of Madueke, Eze, and Martinelli ready to impact the game off the bench, Arsenal possess the tools to adapt if the match becomes challenging, ensuring Arteta has multiple options to influence proceedings throughout the 90 minutes.
This combination of rotation, experience, and young talent highlights Arteta’s intent to remain competitive in the Premier League while managing squad fatigue and preparing for the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final next week.
Arsenal fans will hope that today’s lineup produces another strong performance on the road, continuing their pursuit of a Premier League title and demonstrating the squad’s depth across competitions.
