David Raya is fit for Arsenal’s clash with Leicester today as Mikel Arteta names the same side that started last weekend’s dramatic draw with title rivals Manchester City.
Jurrien Timber is also fit to start against the struggling Foxes in the Premier League after a knock sustained at the Etihad Stadium, but Ben White is absent from the matchday squad entirely as Bukayo Saka takes the captain’s armband and Leandro Trossard returns from suspension.
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“Jurrien was able to take part in training today, that’s good news, so he’ll be available in the squad,” Arteta had said of the defensive duo at his pre-match press conference on Friday. “Hopefully Ben, too.”
Arsenal are without skipper Martin Odegaard, who remains absent due to an ankle injury picked up earlier this month playing for Norway.
Midfielder Mikel Merino is still out with a shoulder injury, but he could be back in action next week.
“Tomorrow is too soon. Next week we’ll see,” Arteta said of summer signing Merino on Friday. “He had partial training today. He’s been working so hard. It’s looking good. It’s about the healing of the bone and how mature that is to expose him to contact basically.”
Takehiro Tomiyasu is slightly behind Merino with his recovery from a knee issue, with Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kieran Tierney and Tommy Setford also still sidelined.
Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Partey, Rice, Havertz, Saka, Martinelli, Trossard
Subs: Neto, Lewis-Skelly, Nichols, Kiwior, Kacurri, Jorginho, Nwaneri, Sterling, Jesus
Injured: Merino (shoulder), Odegaard (ankle), Setford (hip), Tierney (hamstring), Tomiyasu (knee), Zinchenko (calf)
Time and date: 3pm BST on Saturday September 28, 2024
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Referee: Sam Barrott
