Arsenal

Image source, Getty Images

George Cummins, BBC Sport

Title-chasing Liverpool visit Emirates Stadium tomorrow as Arsenal go in search of a top-four finish.

Mikel Arteta sat down with the media this morning at London Colney and said this is the best his side have played since he took over in December 2019.

"We are playing better," he said. "We have a better understanding of what we want. Confidence and belief. Understanding with each other. Everything clicks better and quicker.

"I think with the level of consistency, throughout the games I would say yes [this is the best we have played]."

The stats show Arsenal and Liverpool are currently two of the best form sides in the league - but how does Arteta feel about that?

"There are better teams in the country and that’s what the league table shows," he said. "We haven’t done anything.

"What we are doing is trying to improve. Understand better what we want. Being much more consistent in performance and results and nothing else."

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before the Gunners host Liverpool at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Arteta said the Gunners are "obliged" to be in the Champions League - but insists they "haven't done anything yet" despite being in control of their top-four destiny.

• He went on to say that there are "better teams in the country because that's what the league table shows".

• England defender Ben White has been on top form since his arrival in the summer but, when questioned about whether he is the best English centre-back, Arteta responded: "I don't know. We are really happy with his performances and hopefully he can get rewarded."

• He also had similar praise for goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who was singled out by Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers following Saturday's victory: "Thanks to Brendan for thinking that way. Aaron has to take those words to give him confidence. I've always said he's been exceptional since the day we signed him."

• The Arsenal manager is also wary of facing a Liverpool team in a great run of form, calling them "arguably the best team in England".

• He also called for his side to "be at your very best" against a team that "dominate every aspect of the game".

Image source, Getty Images

Former Norway striker Jan Aage Fjortoft says Martin Odegaard is back to his best at Arsenal.

Fjortoft, who was involved in bringing Odegaard into the Norwegian senior team, said the midfielder's unsuccessful stint at Real Madrid was instrumental in making him the player he is today.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club: "He made his debut when he was 15 years and 200 days. All the press from all over the world wanted to speak to this young miracle magical Harry Potter of Norway.

"It's funny because Arsenal have been following him all the time. When he was 15 they were after him and we were discussing with Martin and his dad which club he should go to.

"At that time it was Arsenal, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. People said he shouldn’t have gone to Real Madrid at that time but I still believe it was the right thing to do. When you are best at something you have to go to the best colleges of this world with the best teacher and he had Zinedine Zidane there.

"It took him some time, they saw this young kid but still he matured. It took a bit more time and a couple of trips to Holland and Spain but he is still a young lad.

"What I see he is doing now at Arsenal, we see a young player who always wants the ball and now he is back to his best. We hoped it would come a bit earlier, but let’s put it in perspective. The boy is only 23."

Hear more on Odegaard and Arsenal's top four changes from 42'00 on BBC Sounds

Martin Odegaard makes it into Garth Crooks' team of the week after Arsenal secured a fifth win in a row by defeating Leicester 2-0.

I was taken to task last week by a punter, in a petrol station of all places, who asked me why I hadn't selected Martin Odegaard in my team after his performance against Watford. I had thought about putting Odegaard in for a while but realised I had run out of places.

Reece James, Philippe Coutinho, Kevin de Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez were a bit spicy, I told this punter, but I did say to him he had a fair point.

No such problems this week.

In a performance that was not scintillating but professional - and I thought Leicester were poor - Odegaard looks a touch of class.

Arsenal are turning out steady, consistent performances.

Find out who else made it into Garth's team of the week

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is on a nine-man shortlist for the Paris St-Germain job if Mauricio Pochettino is sacked. (L'Equipe, via Mail), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Arsenal host title-chasing Liverpool in the Premier League on Wednesday as they look to strengthen their grip on a top-four spot.

The Gunners are on a five-match winning run and boss Mikel Arteta has selected the same team for the last three.

Liverpool will be a huge test for the north London side, so would you keep the same line-up that coasted to victory over Leicester on Sunday?

It's time to pick your Arsenal XI to face Liverpool

There is plenty of football for you to sink your teeth into this week with Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League action all on the agenda and BBC Radio 5 Live, Sports Extra and online will have you covered:

Monday, 14 March

• Crystal Palace v Man City (20:00) - 5 Live

Tuesday, 15 March

• Manchester United v Atletico Madrid (20:00) - 5 Live

Wednesday, 16 March

• Arsenal v Liverpool (20:15) - 5 Live

• Lille v Chelsea (20:00) - Sports Extra

Friday, 18 March

• Wolves v Leeds (20:00) - 5 Live

Saturday, 19 March

• Middlesbrough v Chelsea (17:15) - Sports Extra

Sunday, 20 March

• Crystal Palace v Everton (12:30) - 5 Live

• Leicester v Brentford (14:00) - Online

• Southampton v Manchester City (15:00) - 5 Live

• Tottenham v West Ham (16:30) - 5 Live

All times are GMT

Image source, Getty Images

We've been asking you for your thoughts on Arsenal's top-four chances this season. With games in hand, it looks like Champions League football is the Gunners' to lose.

Here are some of your views:

Abel: I really think that we are in a better place, and we should aim for third not fourth. It's definitely possible. This is the best Arsenal team for a long, long time.

Neil: I am a lifelong Arsenal fan and I enjoy watching this young Arsenal team play. However I am a realist and know that not losing to Liverpool will be a massive challenge.

What do you think of Arsenal's chances against the Reds? Let us know

Image source, Getty Images

Granit Xhaka has praised Alexandre Lacazette for his importance both on and off the pitch as uncertainty over the forward's future remains.

Lacazette's penalty against Leicester on Sunday was his first goal since Boxing Day as Arsenal returned to the top four.

Despite only scoring six goals this season, Xhaka wants people to appreciate Lacazette's contribution in other areas.

He said: "In the end, people want him to score. People only see if players score.

"But people sometimes don't see how important he is for us, not only on the pitch but as well off the pitch. On the pitch, he is an amazing player and he understands the game so good with the quality he has.

"I hope now after this three, four, five, six weeks they (people) understand how important he is for us."

Aston Villa have the option to buy on-loan Brazil forward Philippe Coutinho, but Arsenal are interested in signing the 29-year-old from Barcelona this summer. (Sport - in Spanish), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Former Arsenal striker Paul Dickov says the Gunners are "playing without fear" and has backed them for a top-four Premier League finish.

Dickov told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast that boss Mikel Arteta has got the players buying into his coaching methods and believes the future is bright at Emirates Stadium.

But do you agree with Dickov as title-chasing Liverpool head to north London on Wednesday?

Is this a chance for the Gunners to put a marker down and cement their place in the top four? Will they get revenge for their Carabao Cup semi-final defeat?

Give us your thoughts here

Listen to the discussion on Arsenal from 25'05 on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

• Arsenal have recorded a Premier League double over Leicester for the first time since the 2015-16 season, when they were the only side to beat them home and away during the Foxes’ title-winning campaign.

• Leicester have now lost five of their last six away games in the Premier League - their previous five away defeats in the competition had come during a run of 26 away games between September 2020 and December 2021 (W13 D8 L5).

• Since losing their opening home game of the season (0-2 v Chelsea), Arsenal have only lost one of their following 13 league games at the Emirates this term (W10 D2).

• Excluding penalties, Leicester have conceded 15 goals from set pieces in the Premier League this season - the most of any side. 12 of these have been from corners, which is also a league-high figure.

Image source, Getty Images

Harry Poole, BBC Sport

Following a fifth successive victory, Arsenal know a Champions League place is now theirs to lose after a five-year absence.

Indeed, manager Mikel Arteta said he believes his side are "obliged" to return to European football's elite club competition, after the Gunners moved back into the top four with an impressive win against Leicester.

The victory lifted Arsenal one point above Manchester United, who beat fellow top-four contenders Tottenham on Saturday.

But the crucial detail is that Arteta's men still have three games in hand over United, and a meeting with title-chasing Liverpool on Wednesday will provide an acid test of their progress since a 4-0 loss at Anfield earlier this season.

For Leicester, it was a familiar tale, as the Foxes conceded a league-high 15th goal from a set-piece (excluding penalties), before Caglar Soyuncu was penalised for a handball decision described by Brendan Rodgers as "hugely disappointing".

Soyuncu received only a yellow card as Thomas Partey's still goal-bound header was cleared off the line by the alert Luke Thomas.

However, there was to be no way back for Brendan Rodgers's side, who remain 12th in the table.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking to MOTD: "Collectively we raised the level of the Watford game. We had some outstanding individual performances.

"Partey is a threat from set pieces, he can shoot even if he is not very prolific since he join us but he is getting there."

On finishing in the Champions League places: "We have to be there, we should be there. Our history obliges to be there but we are not there yet and there are still a lot of games to play.

"We have an excellent group of people at the club who believes in what we do and then you have to put performance into results. The last few months we have been more consistent."

We are bringing you live text commentary of Arsenal v Leicester, plus the rest of Sunday's Premier League action.

Follow all the action here

You'll be able to catch up with all the post-match reaction on this page after full-time at Emirates Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

Arsenal are unchanged from the side that won 3-2 at Watford in their last Premier League outing.

A fifth straight victory for Mikel Arteta's team would move them back above Manchester United into the Champions League places.

Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, Soares, Gabriel, White, Tierney, Partey, Xhaka, Saka, Oedegaard, Martinelli, Lacazette

Subs: Leno, Smith Rowe, Holding, Pepe, Tavares, Lokonga, Elneny, Nketiah, Swanson.

Image source, BBC Sport

Brendan Rodgers has made three changes from the Leicester team that won 1-0 at home to Leeds.

Tielemans and Ndidi drop down to the bench, while the injured Vardy misses out. They are replaced by Iheanacho, Pereira and Mendy, who makes his first start of the season.

Leicester XI: Schmeichel, Pereira, Amartey, Soyuncu, Thomas, Maddison, Mendy, Dewsbury-Hall, Albrighton, Iheanacho, Barnes

Subs: Jakupovic, Justin, Tielemans, Pérez, Choudhury, Vestergaard, Ndidi, Daka, Lookman

Image source, Getty Images

George Cummins, BBC Sport

Alexandre Lacazette’s contract talks are on hold with top four at stake, Mikel Arteta said today.

The current Arsenal captain has a contract that expires at the end of the season.

Arteta said: "We have discussed it and at the end of the season, once we know where we are, we will make a decision all together.

"I don’t want anybody thinking about anything else that is not that. The decision [to talk about a new contract] we agreed, is to do it in the summer, and we will do it as soon as the season is finished."

The forward only has five goals for Arsenal this season, but has seven assists in his past nine matches.

Mark Lawrenson takes on rapper and Chelsea fan ArrDee in the latest round of Premier League predictions.

Lawro's prediction: 2-0

The other teams going for fourth place have all dropped points in recent weeks, but Arsenal keep on winning.

It looks like their dressing room is a much happier place since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left. The whole team looks full of confidence too, and they are playing a system that works.

Leicester have won their past two league games, which was important for them after such an up-and-down campaign, but Jamie Vardy is out injured again and that's a massive blow.

ArrDee's prediction: 2-0

Find out how Lawro and ArrDee think the rest of the weekend's fixtures will go

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal's leading goalscorer Emile Smith Rowe, who tested positive for Covid-19 last week, is available after a two-match absence.

Takehiro Tomiyasu remains a doubt because of a calf injury.

Leicester forward Jamie Vardy faces several weeks out with the knee problem he sustained during his first start of 2022 against Leeds last weekend.

James Maddison and James Justin returned from injury lay-offs during Thursday's win over Rennes.

Would you bring Smith Rowe straight back in? Pick your Gunners XI

Select your Foxes starting line-up