Arsenal will be looking to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they welcome Leicester at the Emirates.
The Gunners were narrowly beaten 1-0 at Manchester City last weekend but come into this fixture having gotten their Europa League campaign off to a winning start away at Rapid Vienna on Thursday.
Captain Auba ended his mini goal drought by netting the winner as a substitute in that game, while Partey impressed on his first start for the club, having made his debut off the bench at the Etihad.
Leicester, meanwhile, have seen their league form drop off after an excellent start, with back-to-back defeats against West Ham and Aston Villa, though they, too, won in the Europa League in midweek.
Gunners’ spirits will be lifted by Aubameyang’s midweek goal and the prospect of a home debut for Partey. Coupled with Leicester dip in league form, Mikel Arteta’s side may have just enough to secure all three points.
TEAM NEWS
Arsenal will assess Willian and Dani Ceballos, who were absent against Rapid Vienna with minor injuries, while Rob Holding is out with a hamstring strain.
Mest Ozil and Sokratis have not been selected in the Gunners’ Premier League squad, but Thomas Partey may start his first game in the English top flight.
Ricardo Pereira, Caglar Soyuncu, Daniel Amartey and Wilfred Ndidi are injured.
Islam Slimani comes back into contention after being ineligible for Thursday’s victory against Zorya Luhansk. The striker was not included in the Foxes’ Europa League squad but is available for domestic matches.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Arsenal are unbeaten in their past 27 home games against Leicester in all competitions, winning 20 of those matches.
- The Foxes’ most recent victory at Arsenal was in 1973, although they did end a run of 12 consecutive away league defeats by drawing 1-1 at the Emirates last season.
Arsenal
- Arsenal have not lost a Premier League home game in 2020, a run of 11 matches since defeat by Chelsea on 29 December (W9, D2).
- They have won eight of their past nine top-flight matches at the Emirates, with the exception being July’s 1-1 draw with Leicester.
- The Gunners have only failed to score in three of their last 73 home league fixtures, with each of those blanks coming against Manchester City.
- It is 32 matches spanning 18 years since they lost a home league game in the month of October (W26, D6).
- Arsenal star Mesut Ozil set to be omitted from Mikel Arteta’s Europa League squad
- Arsenal follow Thomas Partey transfer up with double deal
- Mikel Arteta drops hint over Arsenal’s transfer plans with deadline day approaching
- What Mikel Arteta Said After Auba Signed Three Year Deal With Arsenal
Leicester City
- Leicester could lose three consecutive league matches for the first time since February 2019, a run which led to Claude Puel being sacked.
- They could win their opening three away games in a league season for the first time.
- The Foxes have scored with 35.3% of their shots in the Premier League this season (excluding blocks), the highest percentage in the top flight.
- Brendan Rodgers is winless in all seven away matches as a manager against Arsenal in all competitions (D3, L4).
- Jamie Vardy has scored 10 Premier League goals against Arsenal – only Wayne Rooney, with 12, has netted more versus the Gunners.
PREDICTION: 2-1
