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Arsenal v Leicester City
Arsenal v Leicester City: probable starters in bold, contenders in light. Photograph: The Guardian
Arsenal v Leicester City: probable starters in bold, contenders in light. Photograph: The Guardian

Arsenal v Leicester City: match preview

This article is more than 6 years old

There remain a number of question marks around Arsenal’s makeup for the new season. Have they seen the last of Alexis Sánchez? When will they be able to field their first-choice defence? But it still appears to be a more stable environment than the one in which they began last season. They lost, crucially as it turned out, to Liverpool on the opening day; Arsène Wenger knows a fast start is important this time around to make the idea of a new beginning more sellable and he will be buoyed by aspects of the Community Shield performance against Chelsea. His team look especially lively down the flanks: can they conjure up a nerve-settling early goal for their big signing, Alexandre Lacazette, or will Leicester’s own new boy Kelechi Iheanacho steal the show? Nick Ames

Kick-off Friday 7.45pm

Venue Emirates Stadium

Last season Arsenal 1 Leicester City 0

Live SSPL

Referee Mike Dean

Last season G30, Y111, R5, 4.03 cards per game

Odds H 1-2 A 5-1 D 7-2

Arsenal

Subs from Ospina, Gibbs, Chambers, Jenkinson, Mustafi, Kolasinac, Ramsey, Wilshere, Maitland-Niles, Willock, Özil, Nelson, Reine-Adélaïde, Walcott, Pérez, Giroud

Doubtful Mertesacker (head), Mustafi (match fitness), Özil (ankle), Ramsey (calf)

Injured Sánchez (abdomen, 27 Aug), Cazorla (calf, unknown), Gabriel (knee, unknown)

Suspended Koscielny (second of three)

Form n/a

Discipline (last season) Y67 R3

Leading scorer (last season) Sánchez 24

Leicester City

Subs from Jakupovic, Hamer, Gray, Iheanacho, Chilwell, King, Musa, Lawrence, Amartey, Ulloa, Benalouane

Doubtful None

Injured Drinkwater (thigh, 19 Aug), Huth (match fitness, 26 Aug), Iborra (groin, 26 Aug)

Suspended None

Form n/a

Discipline (last season) Y72 R1

Leading scorer (last season) Vardy 13

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