Arsenal face Leicester City on Wednesday in the third round of the Carabao Cup hoping to continue their excellent run of form. The Gunners have started their campaign with two back to back wins in the Premier League, but manager Mikel Arteta could ring in the changes ahead of a crucial league game against Liverpool on Monday.
In this article, we will talk about three things worth looking forward to when Arsenal face Leicester City this midweek.
William Saliba To Make His Debut
William Saliba, following his return from St. Etienne, was tipped to become a key component in the Arsenal defence this season. However, the defender is yet to feature in a single game for the Gunners, with Mikel Arteta preferring Kieran Tierney at centre-back.
But with the Scot picking up a slight knock in the last game and with Arsenal missing four of their centre-backs, Saliba is widely expected to make his Arsenal debut against Leicester City.
The Frenchman is expected to feature alongside David Luiz and Rob Holding, forming the three-man backline. It will be interesting to see how the youngster copes with the pressure of English football and whether or not his quality in passing and ball distribution can add any extra dimension to Arsenal’s build-up play.
Another Chance For Ainsley Maitland-Niles
The battle between two Arsenal academy products in Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Bukayo Saka has become an interesting one as the two players fight for a place in the left wingback role.
Saka was given the nod in the West Ham game but didn’t exactly manage to make a solid impression. So this time we might see Maitland-Niles return at left wingback, giving the defender an ideal opportunity to make an impact and move one step closer towards sealing his place in the Arsenal lineup this season.
Saka, meanwhile, might also feature in the starting eleven. He is expected to fill the absence of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the left flank, meaning he certainly has some big shoes to fill. The connection between AMN and Saka is the one to keep an eye on.
Potential Debut For Alex Runarsson?
Arsenal, on Monday, finally announced the arrival of Runar Alex Runarsson. The Dijon goalkeeper joined the club on a four-year deal and is Arteta’s desired replacement for Emiliano Martinez.
There is a slight chance that the Iceland international may even be available to feature against Leicester City this midweek. This being a cup game, Arteta would have customarily selected the second-choice ‘keeper, so Runarsson should not have any difficulties getting the nod ahead of Bernd Leno if he is fit and available.
A game against Leicester should give the 25-year-old an ideal opportunity to settle himself at his new club quickly. Not to mention, a positive performance against the Foxes may even give him some much-needed confidence as he braces himself for a new challenge ahead.
