Arsenal vs Leeds: Predicted FA Cup line-ups with Mikel Arteta and Marcelo Bielsa both expected to make changes

The final match of this season’s FA Cup third round ties sees Arsenal entertain Leeds on Monday night.

There’s a good feeling at both clubs right now – the Gunners showing signs of progress under new manager Mikel Arteta.

Meanwhile, Leeds are currently top of the Championship as they look to play in the top flight for the first time since 2004.

However, this cup tie should see both managers rotate their squads as they are having to juggle this with other commitments.

• You can listen to full commentary of Arsenal vs Leeds LIVE on talkSPORT, kick-off 7:56pm

Arsenal are nine points off a place in the coveted Champions League spots but will feel they can make a go of catching up with their top four rivals now Arteta is at the helm.

And as already mentioned, Marcelo Bielsa’s side are currently top of their league and promotion to the Premier League is without question a priority.

But there will still be plenty of talent on display at the Emirates Stadium and talkSPORT.com has predicted how both Arsenal and Leeds will line-up.

Expect Arteta to make changes but there should be familiar faces too as the FA Cup is still a good opportunity to win a trophy.

Emiliano Martinez played in all six of Arsenal’s Europa League group matches and their two Carabao Cup ties so don’t be surprised to see him replace Bernd Leno in goal.

In defence, we suspect centre-backs David Luiz and Sokratis Papastathopoulos to be rested with Luiz admitting the Arsenal players are not ‘physically ready’ for Arteta’s demands yet. This should give Rob Holding and Shkodran Mustafi a chance in the team.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles has played Arsenal’s last seven games at right-back or right wing-back but they don’t have many other options in that position with Hector Bellerin recovering from a hamstring injury and Calum Chambers a long-term absentee. Bukayo Saka should play at left-back with both Sead Kolasinac and Kieran Tierney nursing injuries.

In midfield, we could see the young but reasonably experienced Joe Willock and Matteo Guendouzi, both 20, while Dani Ceballos, who hasn’t played since their draw to Wolves on November 2 could be given a run out after returning from a hamstring injury.

Up front, we suspect club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang won’t feature with perhaps their Premier League trip to Crystal Palace on Sunday – live on talkSPORT – in mind.

This means Alexandre Lacazette could play in the middle with Nicolas Pepe, who played well in their last game against Manchester United, and the competent Reiss Nelson either side of him. It’s not clear whether Gabriel Martinelli has fully recovered from a hamstring injury.

And here’s how we predict Leeds will line-up…

We know Bielsa is making changes from their draw to promotion rivals West Brom because he’s said he has.

He said: “[Illan] Meslier is going to play instead of Kiko [Casilla]. [Gaetano] Berardi in the place of [Liam] Cooper.

“[Barry] Douglas for [Gjanni] Alioski. Alioski in the place of [Helder] Costa and [Robbie] Gotts in place of [Stuart] Dallas.

“Four players leaving the team, Kiko, Cooper, Dallas and Helder. Meslier, Douglas, Gotts and Berardi in the starting XI.

“Gotts is a player that deserves to play. And Meslier has qualities that allow him to take responsibility in a massive match like this one.”

Leeds will also not be able to play striker Eddie Nketiah because he’s been recalled by parent club Arsenal.

However, we expect familiar faces including Luke Ayling, Kalvin Phillips, Jack Harrison, Matuesz Klich and Patrick Bamford to play with Leeds adopting their usual 4-1-4-1 formation.

You can listen to Arsenal vs Leeds United live on talkSPORT tonight at 7:56pm