Haaland, haaland and Premier League predictions: Leeds to do Arsenal a favour
Weekend previews are projecting a draw between Leeds United and Manchester City that would help Arsenal in the title chase, while haaland's evolving role in City's build-up is drawing attention from bettors and analysts. Lineups have been announced and players are warming up ahead of the fixtures.
Haaland haaland creative uptick
Haaland's creative output has increased notably. He created 10 chances from open play in his first 18 league games of the 2025 season, and has already created 10 in just nine league games in 2026. Across his last 17 appearances he has registered six assists, a sign of a more rounded role in the build-up. Observers note he is joining in more with progressive passing, rolling balls across the six-yard box and slipping runners in behind.
With Manchester City generally expected to score multiple goals in most fixtures, an assist line priced at 7/2 is being watched. If Haaland's creative numbers remain elevated, assist outcomes become a clearer element to factor into player-prop assessments.
Leeds v City form and records
Leeds have lost each of their last five Premier League meetings with Manchester City, having lost only four of their first 16 encounters in the competition (winning seven and drawing five). City have won their last two away league games at Leeds, and historically they have only once managed three consecutive wins on the road at Elland Road, doing so in their first three visits between 1924 and 1928.
Since the start of December, Leeds have drawn more Premier League games than any other side, registering eight draws in that span. The Whites went 1-0 ahead in three of their last four draws, with those matches finishing 1-1. Leeds also have a specific late-kickoff resilience at Elland Road: they have not lost any of their last 25 league or play-off matches at home that kicked off after 5pm (winning 20 and drawing five) since a 6-1 defeat to Liverpool in April 2023.
Predictions, bets and match implications
The central prediction circulating in previews is that a Leeds draw would effectively aid Arsenal's title campaign, because Manchester City play this fixture a day before Arsenal face Chelsea. City have lost only one of their last 14 Premier League games when playing the day before Arsenal (winning 10 and drawing three), that single defeat a 2-1 loss to Newcastle earlier this season.
Player-level shifts are also altering market lines. One winger has been nudged further forward under his new manager, and that positional tweak has produced 17 shots across his last four appearances, changing the underlying basis for shot lines and player-prop pricing. Tottenham's situation is highlighted as precarious in previews: they are cited at 5/1 to be a Championship team next season, with commentary pointing to an identity crisis, injuries and insufficient responses under pressure. Fulham, by contrast, have won all five of their Premier League games against bottom-five sides this season and have won the last two league meetings with Tottenham; they are described as structured, aggressive at the right moments and calm in possession, traits that matter against struggling opponents.
Lineups are set and players are warming up. If Haaland continues to be deployed higher in the build-up and maintains his recent creative numbers, assist markets and match dynamics could tilt further in City's favor; conversely, Leeds's tendency to draw and specific home records at late kickoffs keep the draw scenario plausible and relevant for title implications.
