Leicester vs. Arsenal: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
When Arsene Wenger spotted this particular game in the fixture list back in the summer, he surely did not anticipate a clash between the teams placed fourth and fifth in the Premier League. Leicester City’s superb start to the season makes this encounter with Arsenal all the more intriguing.
When Leicester sacked manager Nigel Pearson after a run of seven wins in nine games saved them from relegation, eyebrows were certainly raised. When they appointed journeyman manager Claudio Ranieri in his stead, those eyebrows hit the roof. However, the Italian has settled superbly in the midlands and has led Leicester to an unbeaten start to the 2015/16 campaign.
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
Arsenal will know that a win at the King Power Stadium will lift them above Ranieri’s men and into the top four. As the table begins to take shape, they will not want to lose any further ground on leaders Manchester City.
With a rousing Capital One Cup win over rivals Tottenham in the bank, the Gunners now need to carry that momentum into the league.
Date: Saturday, September 26
Time: 3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET
Location: King Power Stadium, Leicester
Television coverage: USA network (U.S. only)
Streaming: USAnetwork.com (U.S. only)
Form
Leicester
W (1-4) vs. Bury
D (1-1) vs. Bournemouth
W (3-2) vs. Aston Villa
D (2-2) vs. Stoke
W (2-1) vs. West Ham
Arsenal
W (0-1) vs. Newcastle
W (2-0) vs. Stoke
L (1-2) vs. Dinamo Zagreb
L (2-0) vs. Chelsea
W (1-2) vs. Tottenham
Leicester’s start to the season has been quite remarkable. Six games into the Premier League season, the Foxes remain unbeaten and are set in the Champions League qualification spots—just three points behind leaders Manchester City.
However, in Arsenal they find themselves up against an opponent they have not beaten in 17 attempts. The last time Leicester triumphed over the Gunners was way back in 1994 at the old Filbert Street ground.
The Managers
It’s not so long ago that Ranieri was contesting the Premier League title with Arsenal as manager of Chelsea. Now, the new Leicester City boss finds himself as the definite underdog in this particular battle.
In conversation with Paul Wilson of the Guardian, Ranieri made clear that he is aware of the test the Foxes will face this weekend:
"To beat Arsenal we must do the perfect match, no mistakes. Arsenal are great to watch, they are smart, fast and technical. They are ready to fight for the title again in my opinion. Maybe not the Champions League just yet, but in the league they are growing stronger. I think they have a chance. On Saturday we are going to have a very big match on our hands, because it is difficult to find a weakness in the present Arsenal team.
"
It’s clear that Ranieri regards his opposition as potential title-winners. If Arsenal are to end the season with silverware, they need to arrest a run of two consecutive defeats on the road. The Gunners lost at Dinamo Zagreb and Chelsea in the space of a few days, but talking to Max Jones of Arsenal.com, Wenger seems confident his side can correct their away form quickly:
"We do not go into these games feeling that we have too much of a handicap because we have done extremely well away from home.
If you look at our results away from home, they are among the best and I think we have been the best away from home. That shows we have the mental qualities. In these two games we played with 10 men under very unfortunate circumstances.
"
With Leicester riding high, a win at the KP Stadium would be a significant statement of intent.
Team News
Leicester City
Ranieri, nicknamed "The Tinkerman," is expected to make a swathe of changes from the team that triumphed over West Ham in midweek Capital One Cup action.
That means the likes of 20-year-old striking sensation Joe Dodoo will have to make do with a place on the bench. In his stead, Ranieri is likely to introduce Jamie Vardy, whose speed and spikiness has lit up the Premier League thus far. Arsenal’s back four will have to time their offside trap perfectly to keep the England international at bay.
Ranieri will also bring Riyad Mahrez back into the fold. The prodigiously gifted playmaker is one of the emerging stars of the season and will be eager to continue his rich vein of form against the Gunners.
Predicted Leicester XI (4-4-2): Kasper Schmeichel; Ritchie De Laet, Robert Huth, Wes Morgan, Jeff Schlupp; Mahrez, Danny Drinkwater, Gokhan Inler, Ngolo Kante; Shinji Okazaki, Vardy
Arsenal
Wenger will also make a host of changes from the side who won at White Hart Lane on Wednesday. The first will be in goal, where Petr Cech will come back in at the expense of David Ospina. In defence, Laurent Koscielny is likely to be reunited with Per Mertesacker after a month apart.
The bad news for the Gunners is that Francis Coquelin is still sidelined through injury. That could necessitate Wenger shifting Aaron Ramsey deep into midfield alongside Mikel Arteta, with Santi Cazorla returning temporarily to the flanks. That would mean leaving out two-goal hero Mathieu Flamini, in spite of his midweek heroics.
Up front, Wenger is likely to bring the talented trio of Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott back into the fray, leaving Olivier Giroud in reserve as an emergency substitute.
Predicted Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Cech; Hector Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Nacho Monreal; Arteta, Ramsey; Cazorla, Ozil, Alexis; Walcott
Players to Watch
Leicester: Riyad Mahrez
Mahrez tormented Arsenal in the match between these two teams at the Emirates Stadium last season and has carried that sparkling form into 2015/16. What’s more, he’s kicked on, adding end product to his creative endeavours. Thus far, his six Premier League appearances have yielded five goals and three assists.
Without Coquelin to close him down, Arteta will have to keep a watchful eye on the wandering Algerian. Although his starting position may well be on the flank, he will look to drift infield to hurt Arsenal in central areas.
Arsenal: Theo Walcott
This match could be tailor-made for Walcott.
A glance at Leicester’s teamsheet will show he is up against Morgan and Huth—two centre-halves not blessed with blistering pace. If the likes of Ozil can supply dangerous through-balls, Walcott undoubtedly has the speed to get away from his markers.
With Leicester reaping the benefits of an attacking approach, Arsenal may be forced to play on the break. Walcott’s speed and movement will be key components in that strategic approach.
James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout 2015/16. Follow him on Twitter here.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
