For the second week in a row, Mikel Arteta has many tough decisions to make as Arsenal host Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners manager's task has been made a little easier following transfer announcements for two senior players this week, with Lucas Torreira joining Galatasaray permanently and Pablo Mari sealing a season-long loan switch to Serie A new boys AC Monza.
Whilst it can be strongly argued that neither would have been named in the 20-man Arsenal matchday squad had they still been at the club and available for selection, it does reduce the number of players Arteta must leave in the stands for the visit of Brendan Rodgers' side.
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However, with Fabio Vieira, Emile Smith Rowe and Takehiro Tomiyasu available for selection again after proving their fitness this week, three Arsenal players that were involved against Crystal Palace last week that may have to make way for the aforementioned trio.
In fact, going by the club's official website, the north London outfit have 27 senior players listed, which means if no transfers are completed between now and 2pm on Saturday afternoon, as many as seven first-team stars will have to watch the game from behind the bench at the Emirates.
Reiss Nelson is certainly one, as he misses out after sustaining an injury in training. In addition, Hector Bellerin could also be left out again amid continued speculation regarding his future as talk of a return to Real Betis refuses to go away despite Arsenal standing firm on demanding a transfer fee for the right-back.
Meanwhile, as one goalkeeper will be named on the bench, that spot is likely to go to summer signing Matt Turner, which means Alex Runarsson misses out again. This won't come as a surprise, given that the Iceland international didn't feature at all in pre-season and is closing in on an exit.
If this is the case, Arteta will need to make a decision on which four remaining senior players to leave out as the versatile Ainsley Maitland-Niles, in particular, could have his work cut out to earn a call-up after being left at home for the win over Palace as the Gunners have options at full-back and in midfield.
If Arteta does decide to name Vieira, Smith Rowe and Tomiyasu in his matchday squad, then one can assume that the likes of Cedric Soares, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Mohamed Elneny, Rob Holding and Marquinhos will likely be at risk of missing out. Tough decisions must be made given how large the Arsenal first-team squad is at present.
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