Arsenal will welcome Leicester city for their second premier League match of the season on Saturday after a successful start defeating crystal palace with two goals to nothing
Arsenal will want to maintain another winning record tomorrow against Leicester and will be hoping to give the best performance
The Gunners kicked off the new campaign with a 2-0 victory away to Crystal Palace, while the Foxes threw away a two-goal lead against Brentford to draw 2-2.
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Arsenal beginning the new Premier League season away from home in a London derby spelled trouble last year, but Mikel Arteta’s reinforced side ensured that lightning would not strike twice in a professional performance against Crystal Palace last Friday.
It would not be an Arsenal win in 2022 without Aaron Ramsdale having to bail his side out on more than one occasion, but a Gabriel Martinelli header from a well-worked corner routine and Marc Guehi’s own goal ultimately got the job done for the Gunners.
From Zinchenko’s assist, Gabriel Jesus’s energetic display and William Saliba’s man-of-the-match performance, the trio of debutants laid down early markers for the months ahead, as Arsenal now aim to kickstart their Emirates endeavours on the front foot.
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The addition of the new signing to the squad has really yield massive and positive results from their pre-season activities to the kick start of the premier League
Arteta has affirmed that his side are still hoping to be active in the transfer market before the window closes, but the core of the current Arsenal crop ought to feel confident of getting the job done against a Leicester side whose summer business has been virtually non-existent.
After an injury-plagued season saw Leicester finish eighth in the table last term – deemed a disappointment following their flirtation with the Champions League places and an FA Cup win the previous term – any hopes Rodgers had of squad strengthening have been hampered by financial constraints.
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Leicester are the only club in Europe’s top five major leagues yet to make a signing, and as well as seeing club legend Kasper Schmeichel depart for Nice last week the Foxes have been fending off bids for their top names including Wesley Fofana and James Maddison.
Rodgers will be hoping that he can keep the rest of his squad intact, as well as out of the treatment room to ensure his side can once again be involved in fighting the European places come May.
The Leicester manager has hinted that his side’s lack of incomings has been down to those higher up rather than his managerial decisions, and the priority for the next few weeks will likely be warding off interest in James Maddison, Wesley Fofana and Youri Tielemans.
Leicester’s unbeaten run in the Premier League does now stand at five matches, but they only picked up four league wins away from home in the entirety of the 2021-22 season, and their only clean sheet on the road came against relegated Burnley back in March.
That dismal away run includes a 2-0 loss to Arsenal at the Emirates back in March after the Gunners had previously won by the same scoreline at the King Power in October, and the Foxes’ 35 away defeats to Arsenal is the most they have suffered against a single top-flight side.
Rodgers on Arsenal: “Arsenal have gone to a new level with the three players who have come into the team.
“Saliba is a talented player, he’s gone away and got really good experience and you see him, he’s quick, he can dominate. He’s a fantastic addition and gives them presence at the back.
“Jesus is a world-class striker, you see his hunger and desire, it will elevate other players. Zinchenko can play in a couple of positions to the very highest level. They have given the squad the confidence and has given Mikel the tools to play how he really wants to play.”
Arsenal vs Leicester: Full list of Arsenal squad as Mikel Arteta welcome three players ahead Leicester city match
Takehiro Tomiyasu played 45 minutes of our U21s’ 3-1 win against Manchester United as he continues to build his fitness, while Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira are also on the comeback trail.
Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney was fit enough to come off the bench at Selhurst Park on Friday after recovering from another knee injury, with Fabio Vieira, Emile Smith Rowe and Takehiro Tomiyasu – who featured for the Under-21s – all absent.
However, all three players have returned to senior training this week and could therefore apply for places in the squad this weekend, but Arteta is sure to only consider the trio for minutes from the substitutes’ bench.
Ben White performed admirably against Wilfried Zaha from his right-back role and could therefore earn another opportunity on that side, as Saliba has practically made himself undroppable already.
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Xhaka, Partey; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Jesus
Arsenal Recent Form
Crystal Palace 0-2 Arsenal (05/08) – Premier League
Arsenal 6-0 Sevilla (30/07) – Emirates Cup
Arsenal 4-0 Chelsea (24/07) – Florida Cup
Orlando City 1-3 Arsenal (21/07) – Friendly
Arsenal 2-0 Everton (17/07) – Friendly
Leicester’s Result Form
Leicester 2-2 Brentford (07/08) – Premier League
Leicester 1-0 Sevilla (31/07) – Friendly
Preston 1-2 Leicester (23/07) – Friendly
Derby County 1-3 Leicester (23/07) – Friendly
Hull City 0-4 Leicester (20/07) – Friendly
May h Prediction
Rodgers’ Leicester have caused us problems in the past, but they were blown away by the Gunners twice last season.
Arteta’s side are evolving, and while one or two familiar issues cropped up at Selhurst Park, this young outfit have shown they’re a different beast at the Emirates. The Gunners were excellent at home last season, and they’ll be intent on putting on a show for a wildly excited crowd on Saturday.
Leicester are blessed with a bunch of savvy creators and are always a threat in transition, but their defensive frailties will likely undermine their efforts on Saturday. It’ll take a Rodgers masterclass for the visitors to escape north London with anything, and I just don’t see that happening.
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