Arsenal will be without Dani Ceballos when they play Leicester City this weekend, but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mesut Ozil should be back in the starting XI.
Arsenal will be looking to end their four-game winless streak when they travel to the King Power Stadium to take on Leicester City on Matchday 12 of the 2019-20 Premier League.
Ahead of the game, manager Unai Emery has been dealt a fresh injury blow, with midfielder Dani Ceballos getting ruled out after picking a hamstring injury against Vitoria SC. Speaking of the Spaniard in his pre-match presser on Friday, Emery said, “Yes [Dani Ceballos] has a small injury and is going to be out for tomorrow.”
There are no other injury concerns for Arsenal, but Emery confirmed that Granit Xhaka will not be involved once again, with the midfielder seeking time to recover from the fallout of his controversial actions a fortnight ago.
? We've been given an update on @DaniCeballos46#LEIARS
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 8, 2019
There ought to be a host of changes to the team that started in the Europa League clash, with a change in formation also on the cards as Emery might look to revert to 4-2-3-1 after using the three-man backline on Wednesday. First-choice goalkeeper Bernd Leno will definitely return to the starting XI against Leicester on Saturday.
Sokratis should be one among the two defenders to hold on to their spot in the lineup from the Vitoria game, with the other being left-back Kieran Tierney. David Luiz should return to the heart of the Arsenal defence, while at right-back, Hector Bellerin could be in line for his first Premier League appearance of the season, after not starting in the midweek.
The two-man midfield unit will see a complete shuffling of the pack as Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi are set to return to the starting lineup, replacing the injured Ceballos and Joe Willock, who started the Europa League clash against Vitoria.
Mesut Ozil is also set to be reinstated to the starting XI in the No. 10 role, after being rested in the midweek. Hinting at the possibility of the German starting, Emery said, “He’s training well and I think he’s now being consistent in the training, he’s also helping and he’s also positive. I am thinking about him for tomorrow, for the possibility to play.”
Nicolas Pepe may have played the entire ninety minutes against Vitoria, but is likely to be retained on the right flank by Emery, while captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ought to return to the side on the opposite wing against Leicester this weekend.
Emery spoke about the striker and the responsibility that will be on his shoulders now that he is the first captain for Arsenal. He said, “The first [captain] is Aubameyang because he has experience and he has the respect in the dressing room. I decided to give it to Auba and everybody also agreed with that decision. He has the quality and the values to do perfectly with that responsibility.”
Aubameyang will look to lead his team by example on Saturday as Arsenal look to bounce back to winning ways. He will be supported by Frenchman Alexandre Lacazette, who ought to spearhead the Gunners’ attack.
Arsenal Predicted XI: Leno; Bellerin, Sokratis, Luiz, Tierney; Torreira, Guendouzi; Pepe, Ozil, Aubameyang; Lacazette