Leeds United will be without a key midfielder for their Premier League visit to Emirates Stadium this weekend to take on Arsenal. The Gunners' first test after the conclusion of the international break will be against relegation-threatened Leeds who have seen their chances of leaving north London with any points dwindle following a fresh injury blow.
The Whites have been plagued by significant injuries this season but looked to be through the worst of it after welcoming back Rodrigo and Luis Sinisterra in recent weeks. However, in the midst of those returns, a fitness concern emerged on Tyler Adams.
Ahead of the 4-2 victory against Wolves, Adams damaged a muscle in training which forced him to miss that game and pull out of international duty with the USMNT. The exact injury and potential prognosis suffered to Adams has now been revealed, with The Athletic reporting the 24-year-old underwent surgery on the issue.
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Their report also states that the exact timeframe for his absence is unknown but after undergoing a major operation, it is unlikely he will play again this season. Following the arrival of Weston McKennie in January from Juventus, the American duo were able to build on their existing midfield relationship at Elland Road, but Javi Gracia will now have to make do with a different partnership.
Marc Roca was deployed to great affect against Wolves, but Leeds will undoubtedly miss Adams' bustling presence especially as his absence coincides with a likely key midfield absence for their weekend opponents.
Thomas Partey has struggled with injuries in recent months and looks set to also miss the clash after picking up a minor problem on international duty. "Thomas has some small issues, a small injury tissue and we felt it was too big of a risk to start him," Ghana boss Chris Hughton said when asked about Partey.
The importance of Partey to Arsenal cannot be underestimated, but Arteta does not need to rely on his lynchpin's availability for the Leeds clash. Jorginho, who signed for the Gunners in January, can instead be the man to keep everything ticking along on Saturday afternoon.
Although the Italian has delivered a number of composed midfield displays since his London switch, there would be understandable concern that he would be overrun in the middle of the park by Leeds' intense pressing. However, with no Adams, who sets the press from deep, in the starting XI Arsenal do not need to worry about that tactical concern.
Roca, Adams' expected replacement, is no slouch but he is a vastly different midfielder to the former RB Leipzig man. With the Premier League title race heating up, every game is must-win for Arsenal now, but Arteta can instead target the Liverpool fixture the following week as a return date for Partey.
Jurgen Klopp's men are known for their relentless pressing and although the success of that bow in their repertoire has dwindled in recent years, the Reds will be after revenge for their defeat to Arsenal suffered earlier in the season.
A fixture at Anfield, a place Arsenal have not won at in the league since 2012, is therefore of far bigger magnitude when compared to a home clash against a relegation-threatened. Arsenal should not underestimate Leeds, but Arteta has been handed the perfect reason to play Jorginho and rest Partey with the Liverpool meeting in the back of his mind.
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