The Birmingham club had announced the decision less than three hours before kick-off (4 p.m.), explaining it by new positive tests for the coronavirus which "confirmed a further reduction in our workforce already affected before the trip to Norwich in middle of the week".

It was the tenth meeting postponed for health reasons over the last three days, including six for the 18th which was to take place this weekend.

In the afternoon, there was still reassuring news on this front, coming from Tottenham, the club which had been the most affected and which is already three games behind, including one due to heavy falls from snow, November 28, at Burnley.

"There is good news because almost all the players are back in training and in a day or two the whole squad should be negative and the staff too," coach Antonio Conte told the day before the game against Liverpool, which is maintained.

Four matches only

Tottenham had up to eight players and five positive staff members, which led to the cancellation of their Europa League Conference match against Rennes, scheduled nine days ago.

English football fans will therefore have to be content with four meetings this weekend, but with the first four in the standings in contention.

A supporter shows inspectors his health pass before entering Ellen Road stadium to watch the Premier League matchday 18 between Leeds and Arsenal on December 18, 2021 Lindsey Parnaby AFP

On Saturday, Arsenal took advantage of his trip to Leeds to consolidate his fourth place and the virtual ticket for the Champions League it confers (4-1).

With 32 points, the Gunners are four lengths ahead of West Ham, who have one game less, and five over Manchester United, who have two more games to play.

The porous defense of the Peacocks, 16th in the standings with five units ahead of the red zone, is currently a blessing for their opponents, since they have taken fourteen goals in the last three meetings, half of which in Manchester City (7- 0) in the middle of the week.

Leeds in big trouble

Overwhelmed by seven absences due to injuries, so those of its internationals Kalvin Phillips and Patrick Bamford, Marcelo Bielsa's team also pays for the radical choices of his coach who never compromises on his risky options, a follower of total football.

Spanish Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta (c) celebrates the second goal scored against Leeds, coached by Argentinian Marcelo Bielsa (foreground), on Matchday 18 of the Premier League on December 18, 2021 at Stade d 'Ellen Road Lindsey Parnaby AFP

Faced with the Gunners who have more and more certainties - Arsenal aligned for the first time in more than five and a half years the same starting eleven for the 4th consecutive league game - 45 minutes were enough to sink.

The young Brazilian Gabriel Martinelli, already a scorer against West Ham (2-0), Wednesday, scored this time a double.

He took advantage of a good pressing from Alexandre Lacazette, still captain after the withdrawal of the armband to Pierre-Emmerick Aubameyang, excluded from the group for disciplinary reasons (1-0, 16th), before calmly converting a beautiful opening of Granit Xhaka (2-0, 28th).

Brazilian Arsenal striker Gabriel Martinelli (l) opens the scoring on Leeds' pitch on Matchday 18 of the Premier League on December 18, 2021 at Ellen Road Stadium Lindsey Parnaby AFP

Bukayo Saka hit the nail on the head before the break, with a deflected shot that took Illan Meslier (3-0, 42nd) on the wrong foot and Emile Smith-Rowe closed the scoring at the very end of the match (4-1, 84th), after Raphinha reduced the score on penalty (3-1, 75th).

With the upcoming trip to the Norwich Red Lantern in eight days, the Londoners will be able to aim for a fourth success in a row and hope to establish their ambitions a little more.

© 2021 AFP