Team News: Danny Welbeck on bench for Arsenal

Danny Welbeck has been named among the substitutes for Arsenal in their clash with title rivals Leicester City this afternoon.

The striker has been out with knee problems for the last ten months but could make his first appearance of the season today as the Gunners look to cut the Foxes' lead at the top of the pile to two points.

Arsene Wenger makes two changes to the side that won at Bournemouth last weekend, with Per Mertesacker returning to the back four in place of Gabriel Paulista, who has no part in the matchday squad after suffering "a slight hamstring injury" in training.

The other alteration is in defensive midfield, with Francis Coquelin preferred to Mathieu Flamini as partner to Aaron Ramsey.

Olivier Giroud continues to lead the line, supported by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Mesut Ozil, who found the goals against the Cherries, as well as Alexis Sanchez.

For the visitors, manager Claudio Ranieri names an unchanged XI from the side that shocked Manchester City at the Etihad last Saturday, with Shinji Okazaki continuing to partner Jamie Vardy up front.

Reported Gunners target Ben Chilwell is named among the substitutes, while there is no role for January signing Daniel Amartey, who fails to make the cut.

Arsenal: Cech; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Ramsey; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Sanchez; Giroud Subs: Opsina, Chambers, Flamini, Elneny, Campbell, Walcott, Welbeck

Leicester City: Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Mahrez, Kante, Drinkwater, Albrighton; Okazaki, Vardy Subs: Schwarzer, King, Gray, Ulloa, Dyer, Wasilewski, Chilwell

Follow live coverage of the title clash from the Emirates with Sports Mole's text commentary here.