Arsenal is back in Premier League action on Sunday and face another stern test in the form of a strong Leicester City side. The Foxes are off to a good start this season and sit level on points with Arsenal but a spot ahead in the table due to a superior goal differential after the first five matches. Coming off the heels of a loss at Manchester City and an uninspiring Europa League win in Vienna, Arsenal needs to show more in attack in a match with huge table ramifications early on in the season. Below is how I believe Mikel Arteta should line up his side:
Keeper
Bernd Leno continues to be the only real option in goal, and he must rediscover his best form quickly after his howler midweek against Vienna. He was also slightly at fault for the only goal against Man City, so a big game from the German is an absolute must.
Defense
Arteta continues to utilize the back three, even doing so against a lesser side in the Europa League, and I expect to see it again against a team with an attacking threat as strong as Leicester’s. All three center backs will need to be on high alert of the ever-present danger of Jamie Vardy, who has been a constant menace to the Gunners over the past few years.
Gabriel continues to be far and away the best central defender on this Arsenal team and will definitely start. He has passed every test that has come his way so far, and Arsenal is extremely lucky to have him. Kieran Tierney will be back in the starting 11 after being rested midweek in favor of Sead Kolasinac. No offense to the Bosnian, but Tierney is a massive defensive upgrade and provides excellent balance to the back line. David Luiz is starting to form a strong partnership with his Brazilian compatriot Gabriel, and with Rob Holding out injured, he will get the start as the third center back.
Midfield
The wing-back on the right will continue to be the in-form Hector Bellerin. Another assist for Bellerin midweek now has him up to four already in this young season, and it is great to see him finally fully recovered from his knee injury. The left wing back is a tougher choice, as Bukayo Saka is in great form offensively but continues to be a bit limited in his defensive duties. Ainsley Maitland-Niles surprisingly didn’t feature in the Europa League match, and I feel like that is an indication that Arteta might prefer his stronger defensive qualities in this one. That is definitely a position to watch in terms of how the team plans to play against the Foxes.
Oh, what a wonderful debut it was from Thomas Partey against Vienna. It was so refreshing to see such a confident and disruptive central midfielder start for the Gunners, and he is already indispensable to this team. There are two options to pair with him, with both providing a very different type of balance. Starting Granit Xhaka alongside Partey would allow the Ghanian to play a bit more advanced as a more creative midfielder. Starting Dani Ceballos would force Partey into a more defensive role to break up play and distribute the ball forward. Ceballos is currently nursing a knock on his ankle and is being assessed ahead of the match, so for argument sake, let’s assume we see the new central pairing of Partey and Granit Xhaka in this one.
Attack
Willian remains a doubt for this match with a calf injury, so options are a bit more limited in attack this week. It was a surprise to see Willian start centrally in a false 9 role at the expense of Lacazette last weekend, and it was a failed experiment. Despite his confidence waning a bit, expect Lacazette to return to the starting lineup in this one.
Captain and heart and soul of the team, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, will continue to start out wide on the left. While many will still argue that he needs to be played centrally, he still offers so much out wide as he showed in his midweek cameo.
Nicolas Pepe will surely start on the right with Willian out injured. He continued his good form with a strong showing against Vienna, constantly attacking the backline while showing his signature slippery footwork. He still needs to work on his final distribution and end product, but he continues to grow in this role.
Prediction
This is yet another tricky match for Arsenal, but one in which they really should get a result. Playing at the Emirates is a bonus, even without fans, and a strong lineup featuring Partey should be enough to see them over the line. Another strong performance defensively from Gabriel is a must, though, as you know, Jamie Vardy will be looking to pounce on any backline errors. I expect to see the Gunners get a close win and a massive three points at this early juncture in the season.
Arsenal 2 – Leicester 1
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