Arsenal receive huge boost as two key players eye return ahead of Leicester City

Arsenal could receive a significant boost ahead of their Premier League fixture against Leicester City this Saturday, with two key players in line to make their return.

The Gunners are coming off a resounding 5-1 victory over Bolton in the Carabao Cup third round. Declan Rice opened the scoring early, followed by a brace from 16-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, either side of halftime. Although the visitors managed to pull one back, Raheem Sterling quickly restored Arsenal’s three-goal lead before Kai Havertz capped off the scoring with a fifth.

It was a night to celebrate Arsenal’s youth academy, as four players made their first-team debuts, with seven academy products featuring in total.

“We gave the opportunity to quite a lot of academy players, they responded really well and it’s just so fulfilling to see their faces, their reaction, how much it means to them,” said manager Mikel Arteta. “So, great night.”

However, despite the joy of seeing the next generation shine, Arsenal face some concerns ahead of their weekend match against Leicester City. The club has been dealing with a growing injury list, which contributed to the heavy reliance on academy players in midweek.

Leandro Trossard

Before the Bolton match, Arsenal were already without key players such as Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kieran Tierney, and Oleksandr Zinchenko due to injuries. To add to the worries, goalkeeper David Raya was forced to miss the Carabao Cup tie due to a thigh problem

Raya’s fitness remains uncertain ahead of Saturday’s game. “We don’t know yet,” Arteta said when asked if the Spanish goalkeeper would be available for Leicester. If Raya is unavailable, Arsenal can at least turn to backup keeper Neto, who was cup-tied for the Bolton match but will be eligible for Premier League action.

In more positive news, Belgian forward Leandro Trossard is set to return after serving a one-match suspension. Trossard was controversially sent off during Arsenal’s 2-2 draw against Manchester City last Sunday. Although the red card came in a Premier League match, he served his suspension during the Carabao Cup clash and is now free to face Leicester.

Trossard’s return will add to the competition in Arsenal’s attack. Raheem Sterling put in a stellar performance against Bolton, while Gabriel Martinelli impressed in the draw with Manchester City, leaving Arteta with several strong options in the final third.