Merson Says Arsenal's Short Preparation Could Aid Leeds

Arsenal were scheduled to host Leeds United at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, October 10, after an international break, with former Arsenal player Paul Merson saying the limited preparation time could give Leeds a slight advantage. The match was set to kick off at 12:30 p.m. UK time. Reports published before kickoff did not establish the result. Merson’s assessment, shared in comments to Sky Sports, focused on Arsenal’s short window to work with players returning from national-team duty before the lunchtime fixture. He said the break left the club with little time to review set pieces and tactical patterns. His view was that the timing could make the matchup more even, not that Leeds were certain to win. Arsenal entered the game after losing 3-0 to Brighton on September 19, its first defeat of the league campaign following four opening victories. The result ended the defending champions’ unbeaten start. Leeds, meanwhile, had gone unbeaten through its first five league matches, with two wins and three draws, according to pre-match coverage. One report said 21 Leeds players and 15 Arsenal players had been called up for international duty.