Arsenal will be looking to stay hot on the heels of the Premier League leaders with three points against Leicester City later today.
Goals from Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel saw Arsenal earn a 2-2 draw away to Manchester City in their last Premier League outing, with the draw keeping the Gunners two points off top spot after five games. Youngster Ethan Nwaneri starred for Mikel Arteta's side in a 5-1 win over Bolton in the Carabao Cup midweek, but now, all attention turns back to the Premier League when Leicester pay the Emirates Stadium a visit.
The Foxes are yet to win a game this season, drawing three and losing two so far. Arsenal are unbeaten in their last five meetings with Leicester, with the last outing coming in the 2022/23 season where the Gunners won 1-0 on the road.
So, can Arsenal return to winning ways in the Premier League later today? Let's take a look.
To complete this simulation, we used EA FC 25 and updated the squads with the latest injuries and suspensions.
We predict that Arsenal could set up in a 4-3-3 formation, with their line-up as follows: Neto; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Partey, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.
We predict that the Foxes could line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with their starting XI as follows: Hermansen; Justin, Faes, Okoli, Kristiansen; Winks, Skipp; Ayew, Ndidi, Mavididi; Vardy.
Arsenal struggled to get out of first gear in the opening stages at the Emirates, with neither side threatening either goal in the first 20 minutes. We had to wait until the 32nd minute for the first shot on target, with Neto making a tremendous save to deny Jamie Vardy from tapping home.
Vardy came close again moments later when a corner fell to his feet at the back post, but a fantastic block by William Saliba denied the Englishman once again. Arsenal had been second best all half, but one moment of magic saw the Gunners go into the break with the lead.
As Arsenal camped around the Leicester box, Kai Havertz unlocked the Foxes' stubborn defence when he flicked Declan Rice's pass through the smallest of gaps and into the path of Gabriel Martinelli. The Brazilian cut inside to create some space, and a devastating finish saw him fire his shot into the top corner to make it 1-0.
Arteta's side were then given the chance to make it 2-0 just after the hour mark when Gabriel Jesus was tripped inside the box, but Bukayo Saka missed the resulting penalty, firing his effort wide of the post. Arsenal ended the game with 10 men with Thomas Partey picking up a second yellow card in the 84th minute, but the Gunners managed to hold on and secure another three points and clean sheet.
EA FC 25 predicted final score: Arsenal 1-0 Leicester City
