As you expect from the club in the wake of another painful defeat, some of the players were quick to come out to the media to say a thing or two – like it mattered. Danny Welbeck said it was ‘devastating’ to lose the NLD while Per Mertesacker concluded that they didn’t switch on enough. This sorta stuff can be likened to some random bloke that has a niggling headache but after feeling way better thanks to some good ol’ traditional rest, he decides to take some paracetamol, like it’s going to bring the headache back and cure it. Or something. Bleeeh.

When Arsenal and Leicester met at the King Power Stadium, the Gunners opened the scoring through their main man, Alexis Sanchez, while Leo Ulloa headed the equalizer for the home side. Sanchez has missed the last two games through a hamstring injury but Arsene Wenger has confirmed that he’s back!!! Whether he starts the Chilean sensation is another question for the gods but I’d believe that he’d need Sanchez for the tricky away trip to Selhurst Park and with no disrespect to Leicester, this is a game the Gunners can handle without Sanchez.

The Gunners are currently in sixth place and will know that anything less than three points tonight will be regarded as utter disappointment. Elsewhere, Tottenham play Liverpool at Anfield, Southampton hosts West Ham while Manchester United takes on Burnley. It’s paramount for Arsene Wenger’s men to take the initiative and record a victory that puts on the right direction for Champions League qualification. Arsene Wenger believes that his team has the strength and quality to qualify for Europe’s elite competition but it’s about getting the results on the pitch instead of mere words to the media vultures.

The Gunners had notched up five consecutive wins (best run of results this season) and suffered a setback with the defeat in the North London derby but they come up against a side that has been on the news recently, following the fake rumors that their manager, Nigel Pearson, had been sacked. The manager was involved in what looked to be a bizarre altercation with Crystal Palace’s James McArthur but he confirmed that there were no issues in his press conference.

Leicester arrive at the Emirates with two wins, one draw and three consecutive defeats in their last six games. The Foxes are winless in 16 games against Arsenal (D6, L10) since beating them in their first Premier League meeting at Filbert Street in November 1994. In this run, they have lost seven away games to the Gunners. Their away form this season is nothing to write home about as they’ve lost eight of their last 10 away games in the Premier League and they also have the joint lowest amount of clean sheets this season, with QPR.

The Gunners home form has been quite impressive with Aston Villa leaving the Emirates with a five-goal trouncing to their name. Arsene Wenger’s men have scored 26 goals at home in the League and it’s also worth noting that they’ve won their last seven home games in all competitions. Arsenal will also take confidence in the fact that they have an unbeaten record against opposition from the bottom half of the table this season (W8, D3).

To team news, I expect David Ospina to remain on the field despite conceding two goals. The defensive base Hector Bellerin, Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker, Nacho Monreal and Francis Coquelin will have to sure to ensure that they do their jobs diligently this season. Aaron Ramsey’s form has been very terrible recently but I don’t see Wenger replacing him. Ramsey is odds on to play alongside Santi Cazorla in the middle of the park while Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott will flank Oliver Giroud.

Ospina; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Ramsey, Coquelin; Walcott, Cazorla, Ramsey, Ozil; Giroud.

Enjoy the game wherever you are.

Here’s to a great game of football.

Sayonara

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