ARSENAL welcome Leicester City to the Emirates as they continue their hunt for a top four finish.
The Gunners have really turned a corner under Mikel Arteta as they go searching for their fifth consecutive win in the Premier League – something which hasn’t been achieved during the Spaniard’s tenure.
However, the North London outfit are coming up against a recently rejuvenated Leicester side who always cause chaos at the Emirates.
- Kick-off time: 4:30pm GMT
- TV/Live stream: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League
- Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, Cedric, White, Gabriel, Tierney, Xhaka, Partey, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Lacazette
- Leicester XI: Schmeichel; Ricardo, Amartey, Soyuncu, Thomas; Maddison, Mendy, Dewsbury-Hall; Albrighton, Iheanacho, Barnes
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Results from around the grounds
It’s been a dramatic afternoon in the Premier League where the final whistle has just been blown in five games.
There were late winners for Chelsea and Leeds (who had only just conceded an equaliser) while Ukrainian Andriy Yarmolenko opened the scoring for West Ham in emotional scenes at the London Stadium.
There were huge victories at the foot of the table for Watford and the aforementioned Leeds – their first under Jesse Marsch – but the pressure mounts on Everton and Frank Lampard.
- Chelsea 1-0 Newcastle
- Everton 0-1 Wolves
- Leeds 2-1 Norwich
- Southampton 1-2 Watford
- West Ham 2-1 Aston Villa
On the Leicester City bench
35 Jakupovic, 2 Justin, 8 Tielemans, 17 Perez, 20 Choudhury, 23 Vestergaard, 25 Ndidi, 29 Daka, 37 Lookman
Leicester XI – four changes for Foxes
Brendan Rodgers rings the changes following Leicester’s 2-0 win over Rennes in the Europa Conference League on Thursday.
There’s a change at right-back as the recovering James Justin drops to the bench with Ricardo Pereira recalled.
In midfield, James Maddison and Nampalys Mendy come in for Youri Tielemans and Wilfred Ndidi, while Kelechi Iheanacho is favoured in attack to Patson Daka.
Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has the captain’s armband, and will lead from the back of the Foxes’ 4-3-3 formation.
1 Schmeichel; 21 Ricardo, 18 Amartey, 4 Soyuncu, 33 Thomas; 10 Maddison, 24 Mendy, 22 Dewsbury-Hall; 11 Albrighton, 14 Iheanacho, 7 Barnes
Smith Rowe among Arsenal subs
1 Leno, 10 Smith Rower, 16 Holding, 19 Pepe, 20 Nuno Tavares, 23 Lokonga, 25 Elneny, 30 Nketiah, 69 Swanson
Arteta names unchanged Arsenal XI
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta sticks with the same team that started last Sunday’s 3-2 win at Watford.
With Takehiro Tomiyasu still out, Cedric continues at right-back, with the in-form Bukayo Saka playing ahead of him.
Gabriel Martinelli keeps his place on the left wing despite the recovery from illness of Emile Smith Rowe.
Captain Alexandre Lacazette leads the line of the Gunners’ 4-2-3-1 shape, and will look for the likes of Martin Odegaard to provide him with ammunition.
32 Ramsdale; 17 Cedric, 4 White, 6 Gabriel, 3 Tierney; 5 Partey, 24 Xhaka; 7 Saka, 8 Odegaard, 35 Martinelli; 9 Lacazette
Shutouts have Foxes fighting back
After a run of five Premier League games without a win, Leicester have forced themselves into form with back-to-back wins.
The Foxes beat Burnley 2-0 at Turf Moor at the start of the month, and followed it up with a 1-0 home win over Leicester.
It’s almost two-and-a-half years since the the East Midlands club last won three in a row in the Premier League without conceding a goal.
Back then, Brendan Rodgers’ team followed up their memorable 9-0 win at Southampton with a 2-0 success at Crystal Palace.
The third game in that run? A 2-0 home win over Arsenal.
Ramsdale’s wonder save denies Maddison
That Arsenal win earlier in the season, however, will not be remembered most for the strikes from Smith Rowe and Gabriel, but instead for a miraculous stop from Aaron Ramsdale.
The young English goalkeeper won over his new supporters with a string of fine saves, the best of which was a flying effort to keep out James Maddison’s free-kick.
Here’s how we reported it at the time:
One save in particular will go down in Arsenal folklore and compete with David Seaman’s miraculous one-handed stop which famously defied Paul Peschisolido FA Cup glory. Just before half-time with Leicester looking for a lifeline, James Maddison appeared to provide it when he curled a free kick over the Gunners’ wall. His effort was hurtling towards the top bin when Ramsdale leaped to his left and somehow clawed the ball onto the crossbar – then reacted like lightning to prevent Jonny Evans bundling the rebound home.
Graeme Bryce
Arsenal eyeing up Foxes double
Having won the reverse fixture at the King Power Stadium back in October, Arsenal are hoping to complete their fourth league double of the season this afternoon.
The Gunners have already between Wolves, Watford and Norwich twice, and are halfway to adding Leicester to the list.
Early strikes from Gabriel and Emile Smith Rowe earned Mikel Arteta’s team the points in the East Midlands five months ago.
A home victory at the Emirates this afternoon would bring up Arsenal’s first double over the Foxes since the 2015-16.
However, it was Leicester that had the last laugh that season as they sensationally took the Premier League title against all odds.
Gunners odds-on for success
The bookmakers have priced up Arsenal as clear favourites to make it five Premier League wins in a row when they host Leicester this afternoon.
- Arsenal win 2/5
- Draw 4/1
- Leicester win 6/1
Odds from Betfair correct at the time of post publication.
Good afternoon from The Emirates
Welcome to live SunSport coverage of the Premier League match between Arsenal and Leicester City.
After Manchester United’s Ronaldo-inspired win over Tottenham yesterday, it’s time now for the Gunners to take their shot at the Champions League spots.
Mikel Arteta’s men have won their last four fixtures, and another three points today will ensure they leapfrog back over the Red Devils and into that coveted fourth spot.
Standing in their way, however, are a Foxes outfit that have finally found form themselves.
Brendan Rodgers’ team have also chalked up four successive victories in all competitions, and their previously porous defence has now kept three consecutive clean sheets.
Yet Leicester have been dealt a huge blow in the build-up to this contest with the news that Jamie Vardy is back on the treatment table.
Having only returned recently after two months out, the 35-year-old hitman has succumbed to a knee problem, and joins the club’s ever-growing injury list.
The hosts have had better fortune in that respect, and will only be missing Takehiro Tomiyasu this afternoon after Emile Smith Rowe was passed fit.
The stage is set for a 4.30pm kick off in north London, and we’ll soon have the all-important team news as part of our pre-match coverage.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
