Arsenal vs Leicester Preview: Gunners Looking To Bounce Back After Etihad Heartache.
With implications at both ends of the table, it may seem like a fairly innocuous, run of the mill encounter at the Emirates Stadium but, for different reasons, both Arsenal and Leicester City are in desperate need of the three points.
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With their first five Premier League matches behind them, Arsenal have weathered the storm of their early schedule that looked tough on paper, and was only further compounded by the unforeseen hazards that could have cost them dearly if not for the resolution of the side and manager Mikel Arteta. From costly injuries to baffling officiating, the Gunners were forced to show their mettle early on and made what would have otherwise been a series of frustrating circumstances – almost entirely on the road, mind you – turn into a gauntlet that left them more galvanized than anything.
Arsenal now have a different task ahead of them: managing expectations and refocusing. The upcoming slate is favorable in many ways, as Arsenal play their next three matches before the October international break at The Emirates, welcoming two teams from near the bottom of the table with a high-profiled Champions League home fixture nestled in between.
Goalkeeper David Raya is a reported injury doubt for his side’s Premier League game against Leicester this weekend. The 29-year-old missed Arsenal’s 5-1 Carabao on Wednesday, with 16-year-old Jack Porter deputising in his place. The former Brentford star played in the 2-2 draw against Manchester City last weekend but reportedly left the Etihad with an apparent limp after picking up an issue during the game. Now, he is in a race against time to face Leicester.
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FUNCTIONAL FOXES
Under the management of former Swansea City and Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper, Leicester City have quite a limited and small-ish squad that isn’t expected to be overly competitive in the top-flight. It will therefore be a bit of a surprise for them to have suffered just two defeats in their opening five matches.
Despite that resilience and functionality, the lack of attacking threat is a concern and has massively contributed to them being winless in the league. There was a lot of criticism aimed at Cooper in midweek, too, as they were held to a goalless draw by Walsall before being the League Two high flyers on penalties in the EFL Cup.
Steve Cooper has reported there are ‘bumps and bruises’ from the Foxes’ midweek clash against Walsall but did not divulge who was suffering and is a potential doubt, although there are a few confirmed absentees.
Defender Jannik Vestergaard remains unavailable for the visitors with fringe goalkeeper Jacub Stolarczyk also sidelined. Zambian striker Patson Daka has been out all season and that is still the case for this weekend.
ARSENAL FOR THE WIN
Arsenal haven’t been overly free flowing or high scoring for quite a while now but they manage the opposition and matches extremely well. This is a game that, even with the continued absence of captain Martin Odegaard, should see them overwhelm the opposition, though. Leicester will once again look to be defensive and difficult to beat but the expectation remains a comfortable Gunners win, especially at the Emirates.
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