Javi Gracia confirmed bad news for Leeds United ahead of their game against Arsenal, with three players ruled out through new injuries.

Speaking ahead of Leeds United’s trip to Arsenal this weekend, head coach Javi Gracia confirmed that Willy Gnonto, Max Wober, and Tyler Adams will all be absent through injury.

Adams had already effectively been ruled out in the last couple of days, as news broke of his surgery on a hamstring problem.

But there was still some hope for the other two, as assessments revealed they’d both avoided long-term spells on the sidelines.

Even so, it seems the Arsenal clash has come too soon, with Gracia revealing his concern about the fitness status of his squad.

“I’m worried about (injuries) because we don’t have a very big squad,” Gracia said.

“But I’m positive, I’m optimistic and I believe in all the players we have.

“We had some big problems for us – we lost important players for the next games.”

Left-winger Gnonto lasted just 22 minutes for Italy against Malta on Sunday, forced off after picking up an ankle injury.

Centre-back Wober also suffered an injury over the international break, limping off with a thigh problem in the 34th minute of Austria’s win over Azerbaijan.

Longer-term absentees Stuart Dallas and Adam Forshaw also won’t be available against Arsenal, having missed much of the season already.

Gnonto and Wober both started Leeds’ last game against Wolves, and Adams had started every Leeds game of 2023 before his injury.

Leeds predicted starting lineup

Meslier, Ayling, Koch, Cooper, Firpo, Roca, McKennie, Aaronson, Harrison, Sinisterra, Bamford