The last time Arsenal took on the current Premier League leaders was back at the end of September and just like then, the Foxes were surprisingly ahead of the Gunners in the league table. And although another win will not be quite enough to take us above our rivals this time as it did in September, the similarities do not end there.
Leicester were flying back then and were as yet unbeaten when Arsene Wenger and the player arrived at the King Power stadium. Also, Arsenal were coming off an indifferent run but we produced something close to our best and scored five goals in an open and exciting game.
I am not sure how open Claudio Ranieri will want the match at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday to be, but his side do not seem to be set up to be negative. They will defend for their lives and try to hit us hard going the other way though, and that is why a Sky Sports report is suggesting that the key to the game could be the battle between Jamie Vardy and Laurent Koscielny, the defender that the Leicester striker says has been the best defender he has faced.
Vardy also said, “He’s quite quick, and a big lad. I’m not too bad in the air but I wasn’t winning any headers off him. When I was having a run at him, he was keeping up with me as well.”
Perhaps that is why his two goals against us in that game from work down our right hand side where Per Mertesacker was charged with dealing with him. Hopefully it will be Gabriel there on Sunday and that could be a key factor in seeing Arsenal do the double.
One more thing to cheer you up, Gooners, and get you believing that history is on our side is the record between the managers. Ranieri has got the better of Wenger just once in 15 games. So will Koscielny prove Vardy right and will his manager’s problems against the prof continue?