Image source, Getty ImagesArsenal had just nine touches in the opposition box in their 0-0 draw with Atalanta last time out; their fewest in a Champions League match since March 2014 in a game against Bayern Munich (also nine).
Alex Howell
BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesArsenal summer signing Mikel Merino could be about to offer Mikel Arteta a huge boost ahead of the match against Paris St-Germain in the Champions League.
The 28-year-old signed for the Gunners in the summer for a deal that could reach £31.6m, but injured his shoulder in his first training session after a collision with centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes.
On Monday, Merino led the outfield players onto the training pitch and pictures from the session show him sliding on the ground winning the ball from Gabriel Jesus, a sign he could be ready to make his debut.
Arsenal have navigated a tough period of fixtures at Tottenham, Manchester City and Atalanta unbeaten and scored two injury time goals at the weekend to beat Leicester.
Alongside Merino, Riccardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu were also fit enough to train as well.
However, defender Ben White was not involved in the session and looks to be a doubt for the match with PSG after missing the game at the weekend too.
Image source, Getty ImagesArsenal defender Jurrien Timber believes fixture congestion "is a dangerous thing" and players' concerns need to be heard.
The Dutchman's comments come after Manchester City midfielder Rodri suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury, just weeks after he told the media players are close to going on strike in protest at an increase in games.
"I totally agree with them," said Timber. "It’s a big topic at the moment in dressing rooms, not only at City and Liverpool but also our dressing room. I didn’t play last season, so I’m just enjoying playing right now - you won’t hear me complaining but I totally understand what they’re saying.
"I honestly think it’s a dangerous thing. Last week we played City and I think they played again two days later - that’s too much. I understand why players are complaining."
"The players are speaking right now and let their voices be heard. It doesn’t look like it’s getting any less (busy) at the moment. We’re just trying to be there every game to give our best, but it gets hard when the games keep coming and coming.
"Especially in England without having a winter break, it’s really hard."
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Arsenal and Leicester
Here are some of your comments:
Arsenal fans
John: Arsenal made it difficult for themselves, but in the end, they showed their title credentials.
Stephen: Arsenal really missing Martin Odegaard's chasing, energy and intellect. Thomas Partey just isn’t an intelligent enough player - and reliably will gift the opposition chances in every match.
Chris: A dominant Arsenal display in the first half and at the end. But still there questions as they took their eye off the ball after the break and didn’t take their chances to close it before injury time. A shaky start to the second half. Despite conceding four, Mads Hermansen was a rock who stopped it being an absolute rout and Leicester showed character.
Martin: The Arsenal of latter Wenger, Emery and early Arteta years would have lost that game from 2-0 up. They did well to pile the pressure on Leicester until the goal came. Champions find ways to win when it looks dire, but we can't afford second halves like that against the big teams.
Leicester fans
Max: A poor first half but much better in the second. I feel something strange is going on regarding decisions already. The strange VAR decision against Palace and then here with the seven added minutes! Also, Calafiori not getting a second yellow card. This will sound 'salty' but keep an eye out for poor decisions against Leicester in future games.
James: While Leicester nearly came away with a point they barely deserved, they once again showed that they can be competitive. However, the lack of strength in depth (e.g. Raheem Sterling vs Jordan Ayew, no contest), and poor tactics by the Foxes was their downfall in the end. Steve Cooper is running out of time. Defeat at home by Bournemouth, and that may be that.
Patrick: World class keeping! Five shots on target and two goals and only 25% possession! More possession might have equalled more goals. Plenty to rejoice over everything taken into consideration. However, how did seven minutes of extra time become 13? VAR again!! I can understand if Cooper blows his top again.
Nathan: It's time for Cooper to go - we need someone that is going to play for the win not play just to survive. It was a poor decision signing him in the first place.
Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Champions League game against Paris St-Germain (kick-off 20:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori will be assessed today to determine if they will be in contention. Arteta confirmed he is also not expecting any injured players to return for the game.
He praised Calafiori and Jurrien Timber's ability to make the team "unpredictable" to play against, adding: "They are two players that have the football brain, adaptability and ability to occupy different spaces."
He said he is "so pleased" with the way his team have performed in recent weeks and for their strong mentality in big games.
On the Gunners having a good home record in European competitions: "Everybody is looking forward to it. It is the kind of night we all want to experience and have against an unbelievable opponent."
He described PSG as "an exceptional opponent," who "dominate every phase of play and are really aggressive."
On the importance of getting a result after starting their Champions League challenge with a point against Atalanta: "The opposition we’re facing is probably at the highest level in European football. It’s a great opportunity. We want to win the game and after the draw with Atalanta, we know it’s really important."
Speaking about his time on loan at PSG in the 2001-02 season: "I loved every minute of it and will always be so thankful to the club. It is an experience I’ll remember forever and it ignited something in me to become a manager in the future."
Full commentary of Arsenal v PSG from 20:00 BST on Tuesday on BBC Radio 5 Live
Highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures.
If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.
Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:
Matthew Howarth
BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty ImagesAs referee Sam Barrott blew for half-time at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, title-chasing Arsenal held a commanding 2-0 lead against a struggling Leicester side who had managed just one touch inside the Gunners' area before the break.
Surely there was little chance of a second-half Foxes revival?
How wrong we all were.
James Justin's double after half-time - including a sensational second-half volley from Wilfred Ndidi's cross - stunned Mikel Arteta's side, but the hosts soon regained their poise.
They peppered Mads Hermansen's goal in the latter stages but were repeatedly denied by the Danish goalkeeper, who thwarted Leandro Trossard, Kai Havertz and second-half substitute Ethan Nwaneri as the Gunners piled forward.
Just as Leicester appeared to be hanging on for a morale-boosting point, Trossard's shot was turned in by Ndidi before Havertz struck again with virtually the last kick.
The Foxes certainly gave Arteta and his team an almighty scare, but, not for the first time this season, Arsenal's tenacity, patience and persistence in the face of adversity proved crucial.
Image source, Getty ImagesArsenal had 36 shots in this match, their joint-most on record (since 2003-04) in a single Premier League game (also 36 v Sunderland in May 2017).
Image source, Getty ImagesArsenal boss Mikel Arteta, has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day after today's victory: "I'm very happy, first of all with the performance. I think we were unbelievable today. We deserved to win with many more goals. Starting the second half the way we did, conceding the first goal makes things harder and then with the equaliser the team showed unbelievable character to keep pushing, creating chance after chance. We suffered more than we should have but this is football. Really happy with the team.
On the mentality of his side: "Great. How we handled the situation, we felt it should have been many more and it wasn't and suddenly it is 2-2 but we had to deal with a very good team with difficult circumstances and we stayed really composed. We had a lot of clarity, understanding what we had to do and we kept doing what we had to do and we earned the right to win it. James Justin scored an unbelievable, world class goal."
On scoring two goals in stoppage time: "Now we are really happy but we could have been in a very different position because of the two goals we conceded but certainty with the performance we have to be super happy."
On the chances of the match ending in a draw: "There's always a possibility, this is the Premier League, every team has got unbelievable resources to create issues and today they scored two goals out of very little but this is the quality that they have."
Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter
Image source, Getty ImagesThere are a multitude of storylines here. Arsenal deserved to win by a country mile but couldn't put Leicester away.
Leicester didn't get that many chances but made the best of them. If you create that many chances and put that much pressure on with corners at the back post, eventually that creaking back door falls in.
Today you would have been shocked if Leicester had won at the end. Arsenal found that ugly way to get the three points.
Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?
Have your say on Arsenal's performance, external
What did you make of Leicester’s display?, external
Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies
Seven matches make up Saturday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.
All kick-off times BST
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BBC Radio 5 Live commentaries:
Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.
For week six, he takes on Maximo Park singer Paul Smith, whose latest album, Stream Of Life, is out on Friday.
Arsenal host Leicester at 15:00 BST on Saturday.
Sutton's prediction: 2-0
Are we going to see Arsenal park the bus again? It was more like a couple of buses than just one in front of their goal against Manchester City.
There is a lot of attention on Gunners boss Mikel Arteta and his approach, and whether people view his team as too negative - they were also very defensive against Atalanta in the Champions League last week - but it's what happens in the end that counts.
If this is all part of a long-term plan and Arsenal end up winning the Premier League, then you have to take your hat off to Arteta. In any case, I'm expecting them to be much more attack-minded here.
There was a bit of negativity towards Leicester boss Steve Cooper from Foxes fans when their side got past Walsall on penalties in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, but they need to be patient with him.
I always felt it was going to be very difficult for all three promoted clubs this season, and I predicted they would all go down, just like all three did last time.
Leicester have had great success in the Premier League previously, finishing fifth two seasons running in 2020-21 and 2021-22 after winning it in 2015-2016, but their circumstances are completely different now. Right now their season is all about their struggle to stay up.
Losing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to Chelsea in the summer was a big blow because he knitted everything in midfield and, as a team, I would say they are a work in progress.
The problem for Leicester is you don't want to be playing Arsenal when you are a work in progress. This is going to be an extremely tough afternoon for them, and I can't see them getting anything at the Emirates.
Smith's prediction: 3-0
Leicester are up against it this season, for sure. Arsenal are going to be dominant and once one goal goes in, another couple will follow.
Image source, Getty ImagesMikel Arteta insists his friendship with Pep Guardiola will not be damaged as Arsenal aim to dethrone Premier League champions Manchester City.
Following an ill-tempered and dramatic 2-2 draw between the sides last weekend, Arteta made clear that his "personal relationship" with Guardiola will not be affected by sport.
Speaking ahead of his side's home match against Leicester City on Saturday, Arteta said: "I love him, I respect him, I admire him and I admire his team and everything that he does. This is sport. One thing is our profession, another is our personal relationship."
The Gunners have finished second behind City in the last two campaigns, finishing five and two points behind them respectively.
"If our relationship was damaged because one draws and the other one wins or the amount of times that they've beaten us, I would not talk to him any more," Arteta continued.
"So that's not our relationship, especially the relationship that I consider both of us have. In sport it will never get in my way, a personal relationship, that's for sure.
"The things that you really care about, make sure you handle them in the right way. That relationship I really care about."
Arteta responded to criticism of the tactics he used against Manchester City, as his side played the entire second half with 10 men: "If you don't like opinions then you shouldn't be sitting in the position that I am. It's quite simple. Don't take it personally. It's part of our job."
Marissa Thomas
BBC Sport journalist
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Leicester City (kick-off 15:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Arteta says the club has to "wait 24 hours" to see if goalkeeper David Raya is "looking good or not that good".
Defenders Jurrien Timber and Ben White "took part in training today" and will be "available in the squad" for tomorrow.
On his side coping with captain Martin Odegaard's absence: "It’s not only Martin, he is one of the players who has more impact in the team in many ways but there were many others as well. The team has coped extremely well because we have an exceptional group, a lot of players are taking a different role in the leadership, in their role in the team and they embrace that challenge and I’m really happy for that.”
Midfielder and summer signing Mikel Merino is still not ready to make his debut after suffering a shoulder injury in his first training session: "Tomorrow is too soon, he had partial training today and he is looking good. It's about the healing of that bone and how mature that is to expose him to contact basically."
On bringing goalkeeper Neto into the squad: "We had to react very quickly with the departure of Aaron [Ramsdale] and we had him on our list for a few years already. He has played in various countries at the highest level. We believe he was the right player because he was in the Premier League, he had experience and he is someone that we can throw there in any moment."
Arteta spoke of the mentality of his players when it comes to their improved defence: "[There is] a lot of work from the coaches, from the players individually, developing those relationships and then it is about building trust as well within the team and the squad in many phases that we are comfortable to do that."
On Gabriel and William Saliba's partnership: "In terms of chemistry, that existed from day one. That was so organic and so natural. They have qualities that complement each other really well and we have to use them in the right way."
Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news
