Arsenal full squad for Leicester City with Mikel Arteta handed key selection headache
Fresh off their emphatic midweek win over Bolton Wanderers, Premier League action returns for Arsenal as they host Leicester City. The Gunners will be looking to shrug off last weekend's last-gasp disappointment at champions Manchester City.
The fallout from John Stones' stoppage-time equaliser has dragged on throughout the week as Mikel Arteta's side missed out on the chance to move top of the table. Instead, Arsenal sit fourth looking to move to within the top-two and should the league leaders drop points against Newcastle United, the Gunners could go top.
David Raya is the talking point ahead of the visit from the Foxes after the Spaniard was spotted limping out with strapping around his leg before missing the win over the Trotters. As a result, 16-year-old Jack Porter was handed a senior debut in the 5-1 win.
"We have to wait another 24 hours," said Arteta on Friday. "We have to wait 24 hours to see if it’s looking good or not that good. It’s not about a risk, it’s about a player being fit and available or not.
"When we have that clarity for Leicester, which is the main thing we’re thinking about at the moment, we will make that decision tomorrow."
In other injury news, Jurrien Timber will be in the squad and available for selection as he was forced off last Sunday with a muscle issue. While, there is a hope that Ben White will also be among the options but summer signing Mikel Merino will remain on the sidelines after his shoulder injury.
Martin Odegaard, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney are out through injury. But Leandro Trossard is available for selection after serving his one-match ban against Bolton.
READ MORE: Every word Arteta said about Guardiola and dark arts as war of words breaks out with Man City
READ MORE: Ethan Nwaneri decision, Raya risk and Sterling chance - Arsenal line ups vs Leicester
"Tomorrow is too soon," the Spaniard added on the midfielder. "Next week we’ll see. He had partial training today.
"He’s been working so hard. It’s looking good. It’s about the healing of the bone and how mature that is to expose him to contact basically." Here, football.london takes a look at the 20-man group Arsenal could use to play Leicester.
Goalkeepers: Jack Porter, David Raya, Neto
Defenders: Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Riccardo Calafiori, Ben White, Jakub Kiwior, Maldini Kacurri
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Thomas Partey, Jorginho, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, Leandro Trossard
Attackers: Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Ismeal Kabia