Leeds Arsenal team news: James out, two forwards await checks

Leeds Arsenal team news has a clear absence and two unresolved attacking options: Daniel James will miss Saturday’s trip with a back injury, while Daniel Farke says Jean-Mattéo Bahoya and Harry Wilson still need to be assessed after returning to training.

The club’s squad update on Thursday 8^th October also separates Joe Rodon’s rehabilitation from a return to the squad. He is making progress, but has not yet resumed team training.

Image credit: Daniel James after Fulham v Leeds United, September 2025. Photo: Timmy96, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Leeds Arsenal team news: James ruled out

Farke confirmed that James is unavailable for the Arsenal game. He said the winger returned from international duty with a back injury. That is a confirmed match absence, rather than a prediction based on whether he appeared in a training photograph.

The update does not give a return date for James. His omission should not be extended into a claim that he will miss later fixtures without another medical or club update.

Bahoya and Wilson remain reaction-dependent

Bahoya returned with an ankle strain and joined the group outdoors for the first time on Thursday. For Leeds Arsenal team news purposes, Farke described improvement and a chance of availability, but said Leeds must wait to see how his body reacts.

Wilson has been back in team training since Tuesday following a muscle injury. His situation is also conditional: training participation has moved him closer to selection, but Farke did not confirm that he is available.

That distinction matters when reading predicted line-ups. Neither player should be written into the starting team or described as cleared to play on the strength of this update alone.

Leeds Arsenal team news: Rodon’s pitch work is not team training

Rodon has completed individual sessions on the pitch during his rehabilitation. Farke said there is still some time before the defender returns to team training. The positive progress is not a confirmation of readiness for the Emirates.

For supporters checking the Leeds Arsenal team news before travelling or watching, the position is straightforward: James is out, Rodon is still in rehabilitation, and Bahoya and Wilson await assessment of their response to training.

The full comments are in Leeds United’s official squad update. The appointments for Saturday are covered in our Paul Tierney referee report.

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