Arsenal vs Leicester City team news: Theo Walcott starts as striker; Hector Bellerin returns; Rob Holding out

James Benge26 April 2017

Theo Walcott leads the line for Arsenal against Leicester, with Hector Bellerin returning on the flank - but there is no place for Rob Holding.

Walcott starts up front with Danny Welbeck and Olivier Giroud on the bench, while Nacho Monreal starts on the left of a back three as Arsene Wenger persists with the same formation which beat Middlesbrough and Manchester City.

Wenger has deployed the back three in each of his last two games, and welcomed the new-found defensive rigidity it gives his side, who he has admitted must win their remaining seven league matches to stay in the hunt for a top four berth.

Meanwhile Arsenal will come up against their one-time target Jamie Vardy, who rejected a £20m switch to the Emirates in favour of a new contract at champions Leicester.

Craig Shakespeare's side are without the injured pair of Wes Morgan and Islam Slimani, whilst Nampalys Mendy is out for the season after undergoing surgery on an ankle injury.

Arsenal starting XI: Cech; Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal; Bellerin, Coquelin, Xhaka, Gibbs; Ozil, Sanchez, Walcott
Arsenal subs: Martinez, Ramsey, Elneny, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Iwobi, Welbeck, Giroud

Leicester starting XI: Schmeichel; Simpson, Benalouane, Huth, Fuchs; Mahrez, Ndidi, Drinkwater, Albrighton; Ulloa, Vardy
Subs: Zieler, Chilwell, Musa, King, Amartey, Okazaki, Gray

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