Much has been said about Arsenal following their hard-fought draw with Manchester City at the Etihad, with headlines focusing on the use of ‘dark arts’ and ‘negative football’ ahead of their clash against Leicester City at the Emirates. What has been overlooked, however, is the situation Mikel Arteta’s side faced after Leandro Trossard was shown a soft second yellow, leaving them down to ten men for over 55 minutes.
Despite the adversity, Arsenal’s resolute defensive effort to secure a draw at the Etihad has yet to receive the credit it deserves. Instead, the narrative has centered around their stubborn approach. Unfazed by the criticism, Arteta stayed focused, and his team responded in style, booking their place in the next round of the EFL Cup with a commanding 5-1 victory over Bolton Wanderers at the Emirates in midweek.
Arsenal vs Leicester Team News & Tactics
Arsenal
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Saka, Partey, Rice, Martinelli; Havertz, Trossard
Leicester City
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Hermansen; Justin, Faes, Okoli, Kristiansen; Winks, Skipp; Ayew, Ndidi, Mavididi; Vardy
Key Stats:
- Arsenal have won 11 of their last 13 home matches against Leicester City across all competitions.
- Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 11 Premier League matches.
- The Gunners have won 16 of their last 17 top-flight games against newly-promoted teams, including all six last season with a dominant 25-4 aggregate score. The only exception was a 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest in May 2023.
- Leicester City have failed to win 10 of their last 11 Premier League matches.
- Leicester have managed just one clean sheet in their last 28 Premier League fixtures, a 0-0 draw against Newcastle United in May 2023.
Player to Watch
Leandro Trossard
After serving his suspension for the red card against Manchester City, Leandro Trossard is back in action and ready to make his mark. The Belgian international has carved out a vital role in Arsenal’s setup, particularly as a potential replacement for Martin Ødegaard. Mikel Arteta appears keen to deploy Trossard in new ways, taking advantage of his versatility.
Trossard will be eager to prove his worth again, especially after strong performances in big games against Tottenham and Manchester City. Saturday’s clash against Leicester presents a prime opportunity for him to integrate seamlessly into Arsenal’s attacking setup and potentially deliver a standout performance.
Prediction
Arsenal 4-0 Leicester City
How to Watch Arsenal vs Leicester
Watch online via NaijaSport247 TV.
