Ebanks-Blake was a prolific marksman for Mick McCarthy's side in the Championship but the former Plymouth striker had an injury-hit start to the current campaign before netting his first top flight goal, from the penalty spot, against Aston Villa at Molineux a fortnight ago.

He was left out of the starting XI for last week's trip to Stoke but McCarthy says Ebanks-Blake was always pencilled in for a recall against the Gunners even before Chris Iwelumo sustained a recurrence of his metatarsal injury which will sideline him for several weeks.

Ebanks-Blake admitted: "It's been quite frustrating because I was out injured and have not played as many games as I would have liked.

"That goal against Villa was a weight off my back and I know that strikers are judged on the goals they score.

"I love scoring goals and to be able to achieve that in the Premier League, the best league in the world, is what it is all about.

"That is why that first one meant a lot to me. To score goals in this league is definitely special.

"As long as I am getting chances, I am happy. If I don't get chances, I won't score. If I get enough of them, then I will score goals."

McCarthy is delighted by positive response of Ebanks-Blake after he was axed for the trip to the Britannia Stadium.

He said: "Sylvan's response has been fantastic. No-one likes to be out of the team.

"But his reaction was outstandingly good in the way he has trained and wanting to be part of things.

"He is playing against Arsenal. He was always going to play even before Chris (Iwelumo) got injured. It was just a tactical decision at Stoke."

McCarthy is unlikely to make many changes given the way his side fought back from a two-goal deficit against Tony Pulis' side to earn a third successive draw.