As Manchester United defeated Leicester City 3-0 in their most recent match, a four-game unbeaten streak came to an abrupt end. Given that the Foxes had scored eight goals in their previous two games, the manner of the loss was perhaps most unexpected. Following the match, manager Brendan Rodgers anticipated this return home and predicted that the “supporters will be very up for it” against league-leading Arsenal.
In order to break their terrible four-game losing trend in head-to-head matches in the top division versus the Gunners—a streak that might see them suffer their first five-game losing streak in 91 years—the Foxes will need their twelfth man! No team in the Premier League (PL) has lost more games this season from winning positions than Leicester, so even if they come out strong in the game, they cannot afford to rest on their laurels (W7, D2, L5).
Arsenal, who have won a PL-high four games from losing positions (W4, L3), will benefit from that statistic. The most recent of those comeback wins was in the previous round, when the Arsenal had to score two equalizers before scoring twice in stoppage time to retake a two-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the standings with a game remaining.
Following the victory, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta complimented his team’s “character and quality,” but focus soon went to the fact that it was only the second time in their previous eight seasons that they had recorded ten away victories in the Premier League (W9, D1, L2). However, seven of those nine triumphs were by several goals, so don’t anticipate Arsenal to let up once they go up.
Observe these players: Despite not having Leicester’s most productive league season (G1, A4), Jamie Vardy has scored more Premier League goals (G11) versus Arsenal than any other team. Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, who is just 21 years old and on the verge of scoring his 50th Premier League goal for the team, will try to surpass him (G26, A23). Leicester have lost all 18 of their recent Premier League encounters against teams in first place (D2, L16).
TEAM NEWS
For the previous few weeks, Leicester’s injury list has gradually diminished, but crucial playmaker James Maddison has become a worry owing to a nagging knee issue. Rodgers is also without the trio of James Henry, Jonny Evans, and Ryan Bertrand for the league-leading team’s visit.
Arsenal-linked Youri Tielemans was only given consideration for a bench spot at Old Trafford, but he should be back to face his fans today, maybe as a direct replacement for Maddison if the England international is unable to play.
Jamie Vardy has scored 11 goals against the Gunners, which is the most by a striker against a single opponent. But, he is currently very low on the team’s priority list and will likely lose out to Kelechi Iheanacho once more.
Gabriel Jesus and Mohamed Elneny, who represent the visitors, are still recovering from their individual knee operations, and it is uncertain whether Thomas Partey will be able to recover from his most recent thigh injury in time for Saturday’s match.
Partey reportedly believes he will recover from his injury in time for the weekend, but Arsenal won’t rush him back while Jorginho continues to fill in admirably. Arteta also allayed any concerns about Saka’s health after he went down with an ankle issue at Villa Park early in the second period.
Although Saka received harsh treatment against Villa, the 21-year-old is now close to being the sixth-youngest player in Premier League history to register 50 goal involvements after scoring 26 goals and dishing out 23 assists so far.
Ward, Castagne, Souttar, Faes, Kristiansen, Mendy, Tielemans, Tete, Dewsbury-Hall, Barnes, and Iheanacho might be Leicester City’s starting lineup.
Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Odegaard, Jorginho, Xhaka, Saka, Nketiah, and Martinelli might all start for Arsenal.
We predict: Leicester City 1, Arsenal 3.
Leicester should have no issue dismantling a frail Arsenal backline even without Maddison after scoring four goals against Tottenham and creating countless chances against Manchester United in the first half. Yet, the Gunners are experts at fighting back from setbacks.
An Arsenal team with a penchant for goals on the road can overcome any slight setbacks at the King Power to return to North London with another three points and an insurmountable advantage at the top, even though Rodgers’ team isn’t exactly impermeable at the back.