Leeds United defender Junior Firpo
Leeds United left-back Junior Firpo is available for the Whites’ Premier League clash with Arsenal this weekend, reliable journalist Phil Hay has confirmed.
The Lowdown: Daunting test for Leeds
Jesse Marsch’s side welcome the current league leaders to Elland Road on Sunday afternoon, with their opponents dropping points in just one game all season.
Last weekend’s 3-2 win at home to Liverpool was further proof of Arsenal’s huge improvements this season and they could be an extremely tough opponent for the Whites.
Ahead of the game, however, some positive injury news has emerged for Marsch.
The Latest: Firpo back in the fold
Taking to Twitter, Hay confirmed that Firpo is fit for selection this weekend, having only taken to the field once this season, against Aston Villa earlier this month:
“Junior Firpo available for the Arsenal game.”
The Verdict: Risky to start him?
Firpo’s return is clearly a boost for Leeds – Kevin Campbell has called him ‘incredibly fit’ in the past – giving them more pace and width from left-back, but starting him against Arsenal does feel like a risk.
Instead, it makes more sense for Pascal Struijk to continue in an auxiliary role, with the defender tasked with stopping the hugely dangerous Bukayo Saka.
It could be Firpo is used as a substitute when legs are tiring in the second half, but given the 26-year-old’s lack of playing time, starting him immediately against one of the most in-form attackers in the country feels like a potential disaster.
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