Arsenal travel away for their match against Leicester City in the tenth gameweek of the Premier League. With both teams in a good vein of form, this high voltage clash will be the perfect stage to judge their progress.
Arsenal have bounced back after their poor start to the campaign. Mikel Arteta's men are unbeaten in their last eight matches, having won three out of their five Premier League games.
Meanwhile, the Foxes are slowly finding their rhythm but are yet to show consistency. Brendan Rodgers' side have won their last two Premier League matches and remain unbeaten in their last four games in the league.
Both teams have earned 14 points after nine league games and are separated only due to their goal difference. Leicester are ninth in the league table while the Gunners are in tenth spot.
It goes without saying that Arsenal and Leicester City are competing for a top-six spot and both teams will want three points from the fixture.
On this note, let us take a look at our five predictions for the match.
#5 Arsenal to win midfield battle against Leicester City
Arsenal have shown immense stability and organization after their devastating start to the campaign. Under Mikel Arteta's tutelage, their midfielders have stepped up and shown promise despite the absence of key players like Martin Odegaard.
Arteta might have just found the perfect balance in midfield by making tactical tweaks. With a four-man midfield setup, the Gunners are finding it easier to link up with their attack and help out their defense in need.
The presence of Thomas Partey and Lokonga in the middle provides a unique mixture of offense and defense. This also helps wide midfielders like Saka and Emile Smith Rowe, giving them more space to make their maraunding runs upfront.
Leicester City are still struggling to reach consistency, with the absence of Ndidi being a crucial factor. Tielemans and Maddison will be key but it is likely that their opponents will get the better of them.
#4 Leicester City's shaky defense to be a concern
One of the major concerns for Brendan Rodgers ahead of their tie is Leicester's defense. The Foxes have already conceded 15 goals in nine league games since the start of the campaign. The fact that they are facing problems keeping a clean sheet highlights their defensive issues.
Brendan Rodgers' team are yet to show strength when it comes to their defensive approach. The three-man backline often seems shaky and out of depth, more so due to the absence of a quality defensive midfielder like Ndidi. Leicester are yet to cope with the absence of James Justin and Fofana, indicating that they will face problems against Arsenal.
#3 Aubameyang-Lacazette duo to cause problems for Leicester City
After a poor start to the campaign, Arsenal forwards Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette have shown signs of promise in their last few matches. It goes without saying that these two forwards are key to the Gunners' goalscoring and their good form will come as a relief for Arteta.
Aubameyang has been slowly getting back to his very best, with Lacazette complimenting him perfectly in the final third. Aubemeyang has bagged seven goals and two assists so far in all competitions, while Lacazette has three goals and one assist in his kitty.
Leicester City's defensive woes will be a boost for both forwards to keep up their good form. Aubameyang and Lacazette are known to work in perfect sync and they will be hoping to pile on the misery for Leicester.
#2 Jamie Vardy to find the net against Arsenal
In addition to Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, Leicester City's talisman Jamie Vardy has been one of the best forwards in the English top flight so far. The sharpshooter has been in explosive form, finding the net in almost every game.
Vardy is one of the contenders for the Premier League's Golden Boot award with just Mo Salah ahead of him. In nine Premier League games so far, the 34-year-old has scored seven goals and provided one assist.
For his exploits, Vardy has been one of the Premier League's best goalscorers in recent times. The centre-forward is a terrific finisher and rarely misses an opportunity to showcase his prowess in the final third.
Despite not getting any younger, Vardy is showing no signs of slowing down and remains the main man in Leicester City's attack. Vardy is no doubt a threat to be reckoned with. Considering his form, he is likely to score a goal or two against Arsenal.
#1 Arsenal to grind a win in a closely fought contest
Leicester City are slowly finding their rhythm and have showcased their prowess with some powerful displays in the last few weeks. Despite key absentees, the Foxes have been prolific in front of goal and their last few good performances will only bolster their confidence.
Arsenal have also looked comfortable under Mikel Arteta's 4-4-2 tactical setup. They have found their balance and will be relishing their trip to Leicester in search of all three points.
As evident, there is not much difference between the two teams on paper. However, Arsenal have been the more consistent side of late, grinding out victories even under dire circumstances.
Although an away win will be a tough task for the Gunners, our guess is that they will edge a win in a thrilling contest.