Mikel Arteta’s approval rating at Arsenal is through the roof but there’s no getting away from the fact that their recent Premier League results haven’t been that great.
The Gunners have lost two of their last three in the top-flight. Admittedly they were against Liverpool and Manchester City away but two defeats in relatively quick succession will have an effect.
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And their next match is a tough test as Arsenal welcome Leicester to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Both sides were in action on Thursday night in their respective Europa League openers – Leicester breezing past Ukrainian side Zorya Luhansk at home.
Arsenal were made to work hard for their three points at Rapid Vienna, having come from behind in the second half to win 2-1.
Arteta would have preferred a more comfortable contest in Austria’s capital but they managed to get the result they wanted and also ensured that not all of their star players played 90 minutes, including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Kieran Tierney.
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New signing Thomas Partey also made his full Arsenal debut on Thursday and the midfielder will be hoping he can make his full Premier League bow having started on the bench in last weekend’s defeat at Man City.
Arsenal team news
The Gunners didn’t pick up any new injuries at Rapid Vienna but expect some changes to be made into a more familiar team this weekend.
Full-backs Tierney and Hector Bellerin are in contention to return to the starting XI having made cameo appearances against Rapid Vienna.
The Gunners are a bit light at centre-back, with Rob Holding expected to be out for three weeks after picked up a hamstring strain during the warm-up at Man City, while Pablo Mari has yet to return to training with the team.
Shkodran Mustafi is fit but the pairing is likely to be all-Brazilian once again with Gabriel Magalhaes partnering David Luiz, who scored on Thursday.
Arteta said he was pleased with Partey’s performance so we think this warrant’s the Ghanaian’s first Premier League start.
Another defensively-minded midfielder may be in order for the Gunners against a talented Leicester side, giving Dani Ceballos, who may return from a minor ankle injury a more free role.
Aubameyang, who scored the winning goal on Thursday, has to start despite not finding the net in the league since their opening day win at Fulham.
Willian played up front against Man City but the game passed him by so we think he should move back to a more familiar role on the wing, providing he recovers from the calf strain picked up in that game. This will leave Alexandre Lacazette to lead the line.
Predicted Arsenal line-up
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