All is not well at Arsenal, but midfielder Granit Xhaka believes team-mate Alexis Sanchez is the perfect role model for those needing inspiration.

The Gunners are facing a Champions League exit following Wednesday’s 5-1 defeat by Bayern Munich, but are still in the Emirates FA Cup and occupy fourth place in the Premier League table.

Sanchez netted their only goal in the Allianz Arena and, after being entrusted to lead the line by boss Arsene Wenger in a shift of position this season, the 28-year-old has thrived and leads the Premier League goal scoring chart with 17.

IJG JPEG Library

On top of that technical ability, Xhaka believes the Chilean’s work ethic in training and industrious running off the ball are the assets young players need to replicate if they want to be a success.

“I think I would say Alexis can be a really big role model,” Xhaka said.

“The main reason is because he always goes to his absolute limit in training and in games.

“I think that attitude and that application is something young players can take a lot from.”

With the glory of a possible place in the Champions League quarter-finals and the ignominy of a Premier League relegation battle to juggle simultaneously, you could forgive Leicester City for showing little interest in their Emirates FA Cup fifth-round tie with Millwall.

But goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler believes victory at the Den on Saturday could be just the boost the Foxes need to breed success on all fronts.

Leicester’s supporters still crow each week about last season’s remarkable Premier League title win and the club have vowed they will stick by manager Claudio Ranieri, despite their current plight.

From the outside looking in it would seem little can dampen the mood at the King Power Stadium, but Zieler feels it’s imperative Leicester get a win on the board.

The 28-year-old said: “It will be positive if we can get a result, because it will give us confidence ahead of the Champions League and Premier League games in the next couple of weeks.”

The Foxes are set to be backed by 3,000 fans at the Den, and Ranieri says his players owe it to those travelling to London to give them something to cheer.

The Italian said: “We have to play for our fans, 3,000 of them will be there with us to support us and I want to see our players fight.”

Liverpool’s trip to La Manga is a welcome break for the squad and will bring them back refreshed to ensure they finish the season in the top four – according to club legend John Aldridge.

Jurgen Klopp’s side were knocked out of the FA Cup in the fourth round by Wolves in January, as part of a miserable run that saw them only win once in ten matches.

They bounced back by beating Tottenham Hotspur last weekend but currently have slipped to fifth in the Premier League table.

And a trip to Spain to recharge the batteries while most of the top flight are engaged in the fifth round of the FA Cup could prove vital claims Aldridge.

“They’ll have a few days off, regroup, it’s great for morale, team spirit as well,” he said.

(Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)

“He can work on some finer things that maybe we’ve fallen short of, especially in the last month or two, some fresh ideas. I think it’s a really good idea.

“It’s going to be tough. You’ve got United now in the equation, Everton will fall short but we’ve got to play them as well.

“Really, Chelsea apart, you don’t really know who’s going to finish in those next three places.

“We want to make sure, at all costs, that we’re one of them.”

Crystal Palace defender Damien Delaney has called on his side to pull together after a 1-0 defeat at Stoke City last weekend left them level on points with bottom-placed side Sunderland.

The Eagles have endured a difficult run of late, but Delaney insists there were enough positives to take from the loss in the Potteries, that confidence should rise before they play Middlesbrough next weekend.

Delaney said: “The performance we gave in the game at Stoke City has got to be the blueprint going forward.

“We have been working an awful lot on our shape and being defensively better and I think our display showed the work we had put in on the training ground since the last game.”

The Palace defender praised his centre-half partner Joel Tomkins for his steady performances at the back ahead of a crucial period of the season.

Palace play three of their next four league games at Selhurst Park and Delaney is adamant his side can pull clear of the relegation zone.

(Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)

“Both me and Tonks have played together on a number of occasions this season and I feel we have done quite well,” he added.

“Plus we also had Luka [Milivojevic] coming into midfield that helped the shape of the team as well, but as I say it’s important we now move on from here.

“This is going to go to the wire, so we need everyone to get behind us because we are certainly not dead and buried, we are not in a mission impossible situation.

“We have 13 games left and are only two points off getting out the bottom three places.

“As a group of players we need to stick together and move forward after the break with our game against Middlesbrough at Selhurst in a couple of weeks’ time.”

Ashley Williams insists the sky is the limit for his Everton teammate Mason Holgate.

The duo have both been part of a Toffees defence that has kept four clean sheets in the past six league matches and are unbeaten in eight Premier League games.

20-year-old Holgate has caught the eye at right back or in a back three for Toffees and Williams – who has 69 caps for his country – has taken the youngster under his wing.

“Firstly, I think that he’s a really good talent and hopefully he has a massive career,” Williams said.

(Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

“I’ve got close to Mason, to be honest. He comes to my house and I’m always chatting to him. We are good friends and I’m trying to help him as much as I can to see how good he is.

“He’s a really nice lad who wants to do well, wants to learn and even out here, I’ve spent most of my time with him. The sky’s the limit for him as a defender, hopefully for Everton and England.”

Fernandinho insists he has no objection to being Manchester City’s jack of all trades.

The 31-year-old is normally seen in midfield, but featured at left-back in the 2-0 win at Bournemouth on Monday night that sent City into second position in the Premier League table – eight points behind Chelsea.

And, as boss Pep Guardiola continues to mould his squad, Fernandinho says he is happy to fulfil any task he is set.

“I think left-back is the fourth different role I’ve had this season,” said Fernandinho, a £30million signing from Shakhtar Donetsk in June 2013.

IJG JPEG Library

“It’s a different experience, but very good and interesting. I liked it a lot.

“The most important thing is to be available to help the team the best way possible.

“Since Pep arrived here he was clear about the fact that he likes to use players in different positions and he made some tests and in the last game (v Swansea City) when I ended up playing on the right-hand side. Against Bournemouth I played on the left.

“To be able to adjust in different positions and try to keep a good rhythm during the match and help the team to win is good for the whole team and as individuals, because we broaden our own experience. If there’s a situation we have to slot in somewhere else, we may already know that role well.”

Manager Claudio Ranieri is demanding to see the best from his Leicester City squad ahead of a huge few weeks of fixtures.

Ranieri’s men travel to Millwall in The Emirates FA Cup fifth round at the weekend before facing Seville in their European Champions League last- 16 tie.

The Foxes face tough fixtures against Liverpool, Hull and Arsenal in the Premier League before their second leg with Seville in the middle of March.

And while Leicester’s Euopean progress was the priority during the early stages of the campaign, Ranieri finds himself just a place and a point above the Premier League relegation zone.

The Italian wants to see the players demonstrate their quality and return to performing for each other as they did in their title-winning campaign last year.

“It is important that the players show me their best, show me their professionalism and show their quality for the team,” he said.

“Not for me, for the fans. Not for the Chairman, not for me, but for themselves. At the end, for the group. That is important.

“When you have a positive result, everything is getting better. You are more confident, I am always confident in my players.

“But of course it is important they feel good and get better, believing in their ability and strength.”

Manchester United defender Eric Bailly believes the one-to-one tutoring given to him by manager Jose Mourinho this season has been the key to hitting the ground running in the Premier League.

The 22-year-old was a mainstay at the heart of United’s defence in the first three months of the season.

Though injury, and a trip to the Africa Cup of Nations, then restricted his playing time at Old Trafford, Bailly has been thrown straight back in by Mourinho for their wins over Leicester City and Watford this month.

United kept a clean sheet in both fixtures as they continue their slow climb up the Premier League table, and Bailly says Mourinho should take all the credit.

“One surprise was getting into the team so quickly,” Bailly said.

“But what I’ve had from day one and, what I’m really grateful for, is the excellent work of the backroom staff, the coaches, the fitness coaches and I’ve enjoyed the confidence and the backing of the manager as well.

“What I’ve found different to any other manager I’ve had in my career is the time he takes and the time he spends with you individually. He’s shown me videos where he’s looked at game situations that have happened that involved myself or the defence in general.

“He’s taken the time to talk me through stuff. We’ve had chats about how to approach games tactically. It’s something that’s been really helpful for me.”

Chelsea defender Gary Cahill has issued a rallying cry for his team-mates not to lose focus in their quest to bring the Premier League title back to Stamford Bridge.

The Blues have occupied top spot for most of the season and hold an eight-point lead at the summit.

But England international Cahill is aware a dip in form is just the confidence boost the chasing pack need.

Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Burnley was a set-back for Antonio Conte’s side, but four of Chelsea’s next six games take place at home and Cahill wants to get back to winning ways.

“It’s a time to press on and a time where the motivation to finish the job should be there for everyone,” said Cahill.

“There’s a light at the end of the tunnel so it’s important we keep working, keep focused and keep doing what we’ve been doing for 95 per cent of the season.

“We realise it’s going to be tough to cross the line and there’s plenty more football to be played, but we must keep believing in what we’ve been doing all season.

“We’ve worked so hard this season to put ourselves in this position and with 13 games left it’s important we chalk them off with the right results.

“We should be even more focused now we’re getting closer and closer, and even more determined.”

Ronald Koeman has backed teen sensation Ademola Lookman to continue defying expectations in his meteoric rise to the top.

Lookman joined from Charlton in January and though he only turned 19 in October, has immediately made the step up from League One.

He scored on debut against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and is part of Koeman’s burgeoning selection of exciting youngsters – including Tom Davies, Mason Holgate and Dominic Calvert-Lewin – at Goodison Park.

And according to the Dutch coach, the reasons behind Lookman’s rise are clear to see in his work ethic behind closed doors.

(Photo by Chris Brunskill Ltd/Getty Images)

“I’m not surprised because I am watching him in training every day,” he said. “He now knows what intensity he is up against and the quality of the players around him.

“It’s a big challenge for Ademola but he is doing well. He is the future of the Club. He’s a big, big talent who is working hard to improve, like everybody.

“It’s very encouraging. The Club has some good, young boys coming through and as a team that’s exactly what we want.

“Ademola is a good example in that if you are good enough you will play, and there are others here like him who will get their chance if they keep working hard.”