A confident Arsenal will host the Emirates’ first home game of the season, as Leicester City come to London with high hopes.
Arsenal ensured they did not repeat their start to the 2021/22 season, as they secured a well-deserved victory over Crystal Palace away from home. The result was a testament to Mikel Arteta’s preparation of his squad from the pre-season campaign, and the Arsenal manager will hope to continue this run.
It has been over 50 years since Arsenal recorded back-to-back victories while keeping clean sheets in the opening two games of the Premier League, and Arteta will be eager to set the record straight. While the Gunners already have a strong squad, the manager has hinted at further arrivals before the summer transfer window shuts down.
Against Crystal Palace, Arsenal were strong in the opening 20 minutes, and despite losing some control of the game, they were strong enough to hold off Patrick Vieira’s charges. William Saliba put in a man of the match performance, while Gabriel Jesus began life brightly in Arsenal colours.
There were other notable performers in the team, but overall, this Arsenal side looks ready to take on the big boys of the Premier League. They host Leicester City in the first game of the season at the Emirates, as Arteta seeks continuation of their excellent form so far.
Leicester City has been in the news for a lack of signings this summer. Due to their inactivity in the market, Brendan Rodgers will have an identical squad to play with, except for veteran goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who has joined OGC Nice. Last weekend, Rodgers was hopeful of starting the campaign with a morale-boosting win, and for a while, the Foxes were heading towards three points.
Timothy Castagne and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall gave Leicester a 2-0 lead, only to see Brentford hold them to a 2-2 draw. The result may have dented their confidence, but Rodgers still has the players in his squad to put in a challenging display against Arsenal. But the Leicester boss is hopeful of keeping some of his critical stars beyond this summer, which could provide him with a base to compete.
Team News & Tactics
Arsenal
✅ Fabio Vieira
✅ Kieran Tierney
✅ Takehiro Tomiyasu? Our latest training edit ahead of #ARSLEI is now LIVE ?
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 12, 2022
Mikel Arteta has a near-full strength squad at his disposal, except for players making their way to full fitness. In the week after the Crystal Palace game, some notable absentees, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira, took positive steps towards regaining fitness. At the same time, Tomiyasu featured for 45 minutes for the Arsenal Under-21 side.
Kieran Tierney made a cameo appearance against Crystal Palace, which showed he was fit but may not be ready to start games yet for Arsenal. Oleksandr Zincheko will likely keep his place in the team, especially after providing the assist for Arsenal’s first goal scored by Gabriel Martinelli.
Meanwhile, Reiss Nelson has suffered an injury that will likely keep the winger out for months. Arteta could look into integrating Marquinhos into first-team activities, especially after the Brazilian winger gained playing time with the Under-21s during the week.
Vieira and Smith Rowe have chances to make the matchday squad, but Arteta will not be in a hurry to bring them into the fold. As for the starting eleven, the team picks itself, with the Arsenal manager set to go with the same team again.
The returns of some of the previously unfit players will boost bench strength and improve the quality Arteta has during the game. Other than that, the squad has no new problems, and the Arsenal manager can rely on the players that got three points against Crystal Palace.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Party, Xhaka; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Jesus
Leicester City
The Foxes seem to be closing in on their first summer signing, as goalkeeper Alex Smithies is set to join them. There are doubts he will be involved in the matchday squad as his arrival is yet to be announced. Danny Ward is thus likely to continue in goal for the Arsenal clash.
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Emirates Stadium ?#ARSLEI pic.twitter.com/Io4UmBnhPR
— Leicester City (@LCFC) August 11, 2022
On the injury front, Rodgers confirmed there were no new problems, but the ones currently sitting out are nowhere near returning. Harvey Barnes is progressing from a knee problem but remains weeks from returning. Meanwhile, Ricardo Pereira is expected to be out for at least six months with an Achilles problem.
Like Arsenal, Leicester City could field the same starting eleven from their opening day fixture, with a back three in place for the trip to the Emirates. Chelsea target Wesley Fofana, Jonny Evans, and Daniel Amartey could form the Leicester backline, with Timothy Castagne and James Justin deployed as the wing-backs.
A midfield diamond could take shape in the middle of the park, with Wilfred Ndidi in the anchor role. Youri Tielemans and Dewsbury-Hall will take their places on either side of the Nigerian midfielder, while James Maddison plays an advanced role. Jamie Vardy is fully fit and ready to lead the line against Arsenal.
Probable Lineup (3-5-1-1): Ward; Fofana, Evans, Amartey; Castagne, Tielemans, Ndidi, Dewsbury-Hall, Justin; Maddison; Vardy
Key Stats
- Arsenal have not won the first two games by keeping clean sheets in over 50 years.
- Arsenal have won their last three games against Leicester in all competitions.
- Arsenal have scored at least two goals in their last three home Premier League matches.
- Leicester’s 35 away losses to Arsenal are the most they have suffered against a top-flight opponent.
- Leicester City are unbeaten in their last five Premier League games.
Player To Watch
William Saliba
William Saliba was a joy to watch against Crystal Palace and justified the hype created by Arsenal fans for over three years. The French defender’s physical presence has brought about a different dimension to the Gunners’ backline and warranted the man-of-the-match accolade last weekend.
While the 21-year-old passed the test against Wilfried Zaha & Co., Leicester City’s attackers pose a different challenge. Jamie Vardy and James Maddison are tricky customers, but Saliba’s assuredness on the ball and his alert defending will come in handy against those stars, with the French international aiming for another clean sheet, this time in front of his home fans.
Prediction
Arsenal 2-0 Leicester City
Arsenal’s last three games, including friendlies, have been competitive enough for us to judge their performances. Scoring plenty of goals and keeping a clean sheet in each of them has been the hallmark of their performances. Last weekend’s resilient display is expected to be built on, which makes them the favourites against Leicester.
The Foxes have most of their essential players available despite the ongoing transfer speculation with a few. Brendan Rodgers will expect his side to be a competitive force on the field, but going by current form, Arsenal are likely to pip the Foxes and possibly even keep a clean sheet in the process.
