Following our 2-0 win over Bournemouth on Sunday, Hector Bellerin admitted that our impending match against Leicester at the Emirates will be our most important of the season so far.

Like any Gooner, I had mixed emotions watching the Foxes thrash Manchester City 3-1 on their own turf. On one hand, it’s good to see the team we predicted would be our closest title rivals drop points. However, on the other, it’s impossible to not take Leicester City seriously any more.

508906430 hector bellerin of arsenal holds off marc gettyimages
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 07: Hector Bellerin of Arsenal holds off Marc Pugh of Bournemouth during the Barclays Premier League match between A.F.C. Bournemouth and Arsenal at the Vitality Stadium on February 7, 2016 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

Although we beat them 5-2 at their place, this was their only loss in the league this season. They’ve only lost twice in all competitions, with Spurs beating them 2-0 in the FA Cup in January. This is huge.

Therefore, it’s understandable that our team is wary of facing the Foxes.

“I think for us, every single game is crucial,” Bellerin said to the press.

“We need to think game by game, it does not matter [who you play] and you need to get the three points. Obviously it is going to be one of the most important ones but you need to keep playing like that in every game.”

It’s hard to know how we’ll actually approach the game. Although Bellerin, who performed outstandingly against the Cherries, insists we’ll view them as any other opponent, I’m not sure this is a good idea considering we haven’t been performing our best lately.

We’ve been guilty of underestimating our opposition in the past and against such a strong team, this won’t do.