Arsenal play host to Premier League champions Leicester City tonight at the Emirates, with both sides in need of the points.
The Foxes come into the match six points outside the relegation zone, but they won’t get any sympathy from the Gunners who will be strongly focussed on a strong end to the season in hope of climbing back inside the top four.
Arsenal are currently seven points off Manchester City who currently occupy fourth, albeit having played a match less, while Liverpool who occupy third have played three times more than us with nine points more than us.
We need to take full advantage of the fact that the Manchester clubs play each other tomorrow night, and our emphatic win over City in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday should have given us a much-needed boost for the league run-in.
Arsenal come into tonight’s match without Shkodran Mustafi, Lucas Perez, David Ospina and long-term absentee Santi Cazorla. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain left Wembley on crutches at the weekend but is believed to be available tonight.
Predicted Arsenal XI:
Cech
Bellerin Koscielny Holding Gibbs
Coquelin Elneny
Walcott Ozil Alexis
Giroud
As much as I believe our side will look to predominantly use the 3-4-2-1 formation for the remainder of the campaign, Arsene Wenger will be forced into making a number of changes following our hard-fought 120 minute victory over Man City on Sunday, and I think he’ll opt to temporarily switch back to his former system for today.
With our club on a high from the weekend, and with the importance of today’s match, I firmly expect us to dominate today. I think we’ll score at least three goals against Leicester, and we’ll get our campaign right back on track after one too many blips in form.
I’m going for a confident 3-1 or 4-1 win, and if Alexis plays as expected, I’m sure he will add to his tally.
What are your predictions for tonight? Will Wenger stick with the 3-4-1-2 despite personnel changes?
Pat J