Arsenal predicted XI vs Fulham as Mikel Arteta faces major striker dilemma
Arsenal should make the short trip across the capital to Craven Cottage in a buoyant mood following last weekend's rousing fightback against Bournemouth.
The Gunners looked dead and buried against the struggling Cherries, who had managed to clock up a shock two-goal lead at the Emirates. But a stunning second-half show, capped by a late Reiss Nelson thunderbolt, was enough to ensure Mikel Arteta's side would re-establish their five-point cushion at the summit of the Premier League.
The Gunners then followed that up with a decent draw away at Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League midweek, but Arteta will be under no illusions about facing Fulham: the Londoners are enjoying a fine campaign and are scrapping it out for European football rather than their top-flight survival as we enter the final third of the campaign. Here, Mirror Football looks at how Arsenal could line up with some of their key attacking personnel expected to miss out...
In goal, Aaron Ramsdale is certain to don the gloves and will come to face to face with Bernd Leno : the German shot-stopper who was in possession of the Gunners' No.1 jersey when Ramsdale first arrived at the club last summer.
In front of Ramsdale, things should be pretty clear-cut. Takehiro Tomiyasu could get the nod ahead of Ben White after the latter started against Lisbon in midweek with Oleksandr Zinchenko likely to occupy the left-back berth on the opposite flank. Centrally, the "happy marriage" of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba will continue.
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Ahead of them, Martin Odegaard could return to the fold after missing the trip to Portugal in midweek through illness. The Gunners captain is likely to play ahead of Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey, who should replace Jorginho.
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Gabriel Martinelli could be deployed as No.9 with a number of striking options unavailable to Mikel ArtetaIn attack, Arsenal have one or two concerns: Gabriel Jesus is back in the frame after a three-month absence following knee surgery but is unlikely to be risked. Eddie Nketiah, who has deputised in the Brazilian's absence, is also unavailable.
Leandro Trossard has thrived as a false nine in recent weeks but Arteta has already outlined that the Belgian international is also a fitness doubt for Sunday's game. That leaves Gabriel Martinelli as the most likely candidate for a central striking role against Fulham.
If Martinelli is, as expected, deployed as a No.9, then Fabio Vieira should get the chance to build on his impressive performance against Sporting Lisbon in a three-pronged attack. Arsenal talisman Bukayo Saka has been in fine form recently and will assume his usual spot on the right-hand side of the Gunners' front three to complete the team.
Arsenal predicted XI against Leicester (4-3-3): Ramsdale; Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Partey, Xhaka; Saka, Martinelli, Fabio Vieira
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