Arsenal step up preparations for Premier League curtain raiser against Leicester without injured Alexis Sanchez... who posts Instagram video showing off his impressive lunch

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Arsenal stepped up their preparations in training on Thursday as they get ready to take on Leicester in their Premier League curtain raiser against Leicester on Friday night.

The Gunners are without the injured Alexis Sanchez for the game at the Emirates Stadium, but looked in good spirits ahead of the night fixture. 

He may be out of the game, but that didn't stop him from posting a video of an impressive-looking lunch on his account.

Alexis Sanchez posted a video to his Instagram account showing off his fancy lunch

New summer signing Alexandre Lacazette is gearing up to make his first league start 

Arsene Wenger (R) gives instructions to defenders Hector Bellerin (L)  and Rob Holding (C)

Mesut Ozil is set to feature for the Gunners as they take on Leicester on Friday evening

Lacazette challenges Holding for the ball during the training session on Thursday

The Manchester City target is expected to miss the first two games of the season against Leicester and Stoke with an abdominal strain, and his stomach will likely be feeling a little worse if he polishes off the sizeable lunch. 

Summer signing Alexandre Lacazette is set to make his full league debut for Arsene Wenger's side after starting in the Community Shield win over Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday. 

The north London side won that showdown 4-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw during normal time.   

The injured Alexis Sanchez kept his fans up to date on social media about his lunch plans

The Chilean didn't appear in the video, but showed off the view, and the food,  from his table

Arsenal will be hoping for a strong start to the season, which would be a marked difference from the end of the last campaign. 

The Gunners finished outside the top four for the first time in the Wenger era - and the French boss has admitted uncertainty around his future affected the morale amongst his players. 

'I had an impact on the season, because at some stage the players came to see me and said:,'What's going on boss? Where do you go?' 

Alex Iwobi is put through his paces as Arsenal prepare to take on Leicester on Friday night

Arsenal players warm up ahead of the training session at the club's training base in St Albans

Striker Olivier Giroud could see his game time limited because of the presence of Lacazette

Ozil (L) chats to defender Per Mertesacker (C) and midfielder Mohamed Elneny (R)

Granit Xhaka larks around before getting down to business in training on Thursday afternoon

'I created, with me not deciding, a lack of clarity in the dressing room and there is nothing worse than that in the dressing room. 

'When you are not completely in or the players feel you are not completely in, it is difficult to tell them we go (out to win).

'At some stage, I had to tell them, 'Look guys, I am with you, but we have to win games'.'

Giroud and Aaron Ramsey (R) work together on a drill before the season curtain raiser

Alex Iwobi and Ainsley Maitland-Niles look to be enjoying themselves during the session

 Mertesacker and Theo Walcott go head to head as Arsenal step up their training efforts