Mikel Arteta will need to get his team spot on if he is to navigate something of a trap fixture. Arsenal then have yet another week of rest before they host West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium.
David Raya will naturally continue in goal as the rumours persist linking Joan Garcia with a move in the summer. football.london understands interest has not waned, and a move to replace the on-loan Neto will indeed occur in the upcoming transfer window.
Ben White has been back in training with the side, and there are hopes he could indeed make the squad for the trip to the King Power Stadium. It would, however, be far too soon to just throw him into the line-up and therefore, Jurrien Timber keeps his place.
William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Myles Lewis-Skelly will also be expected to keep their positions in the team. That said, Riccardo Calafiori will be aiming to find minutes in the side where possible despite the youngster’s rise.
Thomas Partey, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard will have all benefitted from the Dubai break, perhaps the latter more than the former pair. The club captain has faced scrutiny for his performances this season and is very unlikely to get the player of the season award for a third straight campaign without a massive turnaround.
Gabriel Martinelli joined Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus in the medical room just before the trip abroad. He and Saka both attended the trip to work on their rehabilitation but will be absent for the Leicester trip.
This means a big chance for Ethan Nwaneri to cement his place in the Arsenal first team like Lewis-Skelly before him. Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard will be expected to start matches and will need to deliver in these final months of the season should there be a slim hope of winning the title remaining.
Changed XI for Arsenal vs Leicester City: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Nwaneri, Havertz, Trossard.
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