Match points: Arsenal v Leicester

Alexis Sanchez. PHOTO: REUTERS
Danny Simpson. PHOTO: REUTERS
Aaron Ramsey. PHOTO: REUTERS
Danny Drinkwater. PHOTO: REUTERS
Laurent Koscielny. PHOTO: REUTERS
Jamie Vardy. PHOTO: REUTERS

Key battles

Alexis Sanchez v Danny Simpson

Sanchez's hat-trick at the King Power Stadium represents the highlight of his season and illustrates how devastating he can be. Simpson was not the right-back troubled that day - that was Ritchie de Laet - but has to do a better job against the Chilean, particularly by preventing him from cutting inside to shoot with his right foot.

Aaron Ramsey v Danny Drinkwater

These are two all-action figures in the midfield. Kante has got more headlines but Drinkwater, his understated sidekick, has been terrific. He is capable of perceptive passing, meaning Ramsey has to close him down. Yet if Leicester drop deep, as Bournemouth were forced to last week, Ramsey can be left free to pick a pass himself.

Laurent Koscielny v Jamie Vardy

Wenger has to select Gabriel, which would mean the quick Koscielny is the right-sided centre-back. Vardy's preferred run is in the inside-left channel, outside the central defender. Koscielny might be able to track him. Right-back Hector Bellerin is Arsenal's quickest player but goes forward so the Frenchman must cover behind him.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on February 13, 2016, with the headline Match points: Arsenal v Leicester. Subscribe