The final day of January marks the beginning of another exciting weekend of football matches across Europe. In the Premier League, attention turns to Leeds United hosting league leaders Arsenal. Arsenal are eager to rebound after two winless games, a 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest and a 3-2 loss to Manchester United. Other simultaneous Premier League fixtures include Wolves taking on Bournemouth and Brighton hosting Everton. Later in the day, Chelsea will face West Ham United in a London derby, and Liverpool will play Newcastle United. Beyond England, Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich visit Hamburg, while LaLiga leaders Barcelona travel to face Elche, promising a full day of thrilling Saturday action.

For Arsenal's crucial trip to Leeds United, manager Mikel Arteta has made significant changes to his starting lineup as the team aims to extend its four-point lead at the top of the table. These tactical shifts come after a period where the Gunners have been looking to regain their winning momentum following successive games without a win.

Notably, Kai Havertz has been handed his first Premier League start in a year, marking a significant return to the initial eleven. This decision sees captain Martin Ødegaard surprisingly dropped to the bench. In another unforeseen development, Bukayo Saka sustained an injury during warmups, appearing to hold his groin as he limped off, and has been replaced by Noni Madueke in the starting XI. Furthermore, Viktor Gyökeres has been reinstated as the starting striker, taking the place of Gabriel Jesus.

Havertz, whose last Premier League start for Arsenal was on February 2, 2025, joins Declan Rice and Martín Zubimendi in midfield. His inclusion follows an impressive performance against Kairat in the Champions League on Wednesday, coming after a prolonged injury layoff. ESPN sources indicate that Ødegaard's benching is purely a tactical decision, with no underlying injury.

Addressing questions about Ødegaard's performance, Arteta defended his captain's 2025-26 statistics, which show one goal in 24 games across all competitions. Arteta clarified, "He's played much less minutes than in any other season as well because he's been injured three times, that's the reality. We want to improve that, for sure, we want him to affect the game in the area where we can win football matches." The manager expressed full confidence in Ødegaard's dedication and belief that his form will return.

Regarding concerns about the midfielder's tendency to drop deep, Arteta acknowledged, "It's a bit of his nature, and my nature is to go to the opposite side." However, he emphasized the importance of respecting players' unique qualities and talent, granting them the freedom, especially in attack, to execute what they believe is best on the field. Information from ESPN's James Olley was used in this report.