It's rumoured crunch time for Unai Emery as he takes his struggling Arsenal side to the King Power stadium to meet high flying Leicester City.
Arsenal's lack of creativity and lack of identity has fans everywhere fed up of Unai Emery and his lack of results, and the rumours just make it even more unbearable. Young players said to be mocking him through lack of understanding, the obvious dealings with Granit Xhaka and the captaincy, lack of goals and shots, and lack of a solid defence mean its bleak. Shoddy at best and woeful at its worst. But if ever there was a game to turn it all around in, it would be this one. A win away from home against a high flyer whilst things are at their worst, would just be so Arsenal.
Dani Ceballos is ruled out of this one with a small hamstring problem whilst Unai Emery again declared Granit Xhaka unavailable. With Ozil left out on Wednesday, its likely he'll start in the league for a second consecutive game. He has been better than good in his last two outings, for sure. Torreira and Guendouzi should make up the central midfield duo behind Ozil. New skipper Aubameyang will come back in and after Bukayo Saka's quiet performance in mid week, this is surely the game where we see the dream Auba-Laca-Pepe front three. Other than Gabriel Martinelli, there is absolutely no one else available that should push one of these three of out Emery's starting XI. It will almost be scandalous should this front three not start.
The defence is likely to welcome back David Luiz and Sokratis in the center, with Leno back in goal. Tierney started in mid week but should play again here. Right back is now definitely up for grabs as the debutising Chambers hasn't necessarily done anything wrong but with Bellerin almost back to full tilt, it could be his time. Luiz nor Sokratis are overly quick and against the pace of Jamie Vardy, Arsenal's back line needs some recovery speed and Hector Bellerin is just the man to bring it.
The hosts have no new injury concerns with only long term absentee Matty James unavailable. The likes of Vardy, Maddison, Tielemans and Barnes will be leading the attacking force for the Foxes and having made such a solid start to the season, they won't looking to ease off here. At home in front of their fans, they will be looking to leave a real mark in the race for the top four. Arsenal however, need a win. Unai Emery has potently described it as 'must win' and for him, it could be his job on the line. Leicester's form coming into this one is also good. They have won their last two home games against the Gunners and have won eight of their last eleven a run going back to last season. 2015 was the last time any Arsenal side won a match against a team starting the weekend in the league's top four. It doesn't look great for Arsenal in all honesty but a win, somehow, could be turning a point should Emery get his selection (and formation) right. Torreira high, Kolasinac over Tierney and Pepe on the bench won't win this game. Wise up and get it right.
Expected lineup:
GK: Bernd Leno
RB: Hector Bellerin
CB: Sokratis
CB: David Luiz
LB: Kieran Tierney
CM: Matteo Guendouzi
CM: Lucas Torreira
CAM: Mesut Ozil
RW: Nicolas Pepe
ST: Alex Lacazette
LW: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Prediction: Arsenal somehow sneak a 2-1 win with Lacazette back on the score sheet.
@craigbennett10
Arsenal's lack of creativity and lack of identity has fans everywhere fed up of Unai Emery and his lack of results, and the rumours just make it even more unbearable. Young players said to be mocking him through lack of understanding, the obvious dealings with Granit Xhaka and the captaincy, lack of goals and shots, and lack of a solid defence mean its bleak. Shoddy at best and woeful at its worst. But if ever there was a game to turn it all around in, it would be this one. A win away from home against a high flyer whilst things are at their worst, would just be so Arsenal.
Dani Ceballos is ruled out of this one with a small hamstring problem whilst Unai Emery again declared Granit Xhaka unavailable. With Ozil left out on Wednesday, its likely he'll start in the league for a second consecutive game. He has been better than good in his last two outings, for sure. Torreira and Guendouzi should make up the central midfield duo behind Ozil. New skipper Aubameyang will come back in and after Bukayo Saka's quiet performance in mid week, this is surely the game where we see the dream Auba-Laca-Pepe front three. Other than Gabriel Martinelli, there is absolutely no one else available that should push one of these three of out Emery's starting XI. It will almost be scandalous should this front three not start.
The defence is likely to welcome back David Luiz and Sokratis in the center, with Leno back in goal. Tierney started in mid week but should play again here. Right back is now definitely up for grabs as the debutising Chambers hasn't necessarily done anything wrong but with Bellerin almost back to full tilt, it could be his time. Luiz nor Sokratis are overly quick and against the pace of Jamie Vardy, Arsenal's back line needs some recovery speed and Hector Bellerin is just the man to bring it.
The hosts have no new injury concerns with only long term absentee Matty James unavailable. The likes of Vardy, Maddison, Tielemans and Barnes will be leading the attacking force for the Foxes and having made such a solid start to the season, they won't looking to ease off here. At home in front of their fans, they will be looking to leave a real mark in the race for the top four. Arsenal however, need a win. Unai Emery has potently described it as 'must win' and for him, it could be his job on the line. Leicester's form coming into this one is also good. They have won their last two home games against the Gunners and have won eight of their last eleven a run going back to last season. 2015 was the last time any Arsenal side won a match against a team starting the weekend in the league's top four. It doesn't look great for Arsenal in all honesty but a win, somehow, could be turning a point should Emery get his selection (and formation) right. Torreira high, Kolasinac over Tierney and Pepe on the bench won't win this game. Wise up and get it right.
Expected lineup:
GK: Bernd Leno
RB: Hector Bellerin
CB: Sokratis
CB: David Luiz
LB: Kieran Tierney
CM: Matteo Guendouzi
CM: Lucas Torreira
CAM: Mesut Ozil
RW: Nicolas Pepe
ST: Alex Lacazette
LW: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Prediction: Arsenal somehow sneak a 2-1 win with Lacazette back on the score sheet.
@craigbennett10
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