View from the enemy – Arsenal v Leicester Preview

Okay here is the latest in our View From the Enemy series, and this review comes from the official Leicester City website. Mostly it’s just team news and facts but its interesting what manager Claudio Ranieri has to say….

FOXES CAMP

On a day that sees the Barclays Premier League’s top four sides go head-to-head, Leicester City face a trip to Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium as they look to extend their five-point lead at the top of the table.

Manchester City host second placed Tottenham Hotspur later on Sunday afternoon, meaning a victory for the Foxes could, at least temporarily, send them eight points clear.

City beat Man City 3-1 at Etihad Stadium last time out and are now unbeaten in the Premier League in 2016 – including consecutive victories over Stoke City, Liverpool and Man City – all of which have seen them score three times.

Matty James remains out as he recovers from a knee injury while Jeffrey Schlupp (hamstring) may still be a couple of weeks from a return. Daniel Amartey could be in contention for a debut after completing 90 minutes for the Development Squad but there are no other injury concerns for Claudio Ranieri.

OPPOSITION CAMP

After returning to winning ways with a first victory in five Premier League games on Saturday, Arsenal embark upon the first of three straight home games on Sunday afternoon.

Last time out it was quickfire goals from Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain that handed Arsene Wenger’s side a 2-0 victory at AFC Bournemouth – a result that leaves them third in the table.

And with a trip to Manchester United next up in the league for Arsenal (after cup games against Hull City and Barcelona), the hosts will be going all out to secure all three points, just as they did when the sides last met at King Power Stadium last year, with Arsenal running out 5-2 winners.

The Gunners are likely to be without the services of midfielder Tomas Rosicky (thigh), as well as the duo of Santi Cazorla (knee) and Jack Wilshere (calf).

WE SAID

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri spoke of a calmness in his team after a 3-1 win over Man City. He said: “Last season was a big pressure for them. Now they have to smell what the pressure was like last season and stay calm.

“For us it’s important to be concentrated with our feet on the ground. For the first time for a lot of them, they are doing something special. Don’t look behind you. It’s like a climber, it’s important to keep looking up.

“For Leicester, the pressure was at the beginning when we started, because our goal was to stay in the Premier League.

“Now the pressure is on the teams that have spent a lot of money to win the league, to win the Champions League. Now we are enjoying it.”

THEY SAID

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told Arsenal.com after a 2-0 win away at Bournemouth: “We needed to win the game. I don’t want to be too dramatic making statements.

“A game away from home in the Premier League is difficult to win for everybody. We needed to win and we won. In the last three away games we played against Liverpool who equalised in the last minute and we played at Stoke which was 0-0.

“We came here today and won so I believe that we have shown good performances. We played with 10 men against Chelsea. We created many chances against Southampton.

“In one week Leicester have beaten Liverpool and Manchester City. That means that they suddenly become the favourite to win the Premier League. That makes our game on Sunday a big one.”

STAT ATTACK

Head-To-Head

Arsenal wins: 62
Draws: 44
City wins: 28

Last Three Meetings
Leicester City 2-5 Arsenal
Premier League
Saturday 26 September, 2015
Goals: Vardy 13, 89; Walcott 18, Sanchez 33, 57, 81, Giroud 90

Arsenal 2-1 Leicester City
Premier League
Tuesday 10 February, 2015
Goals: Koscielny 27, Walcott 41; Kramaric 61

Leicester City 1-1 Arsenal
Premier League
Saturday 31 August, 2014
Goals: Ulloa 22; Sanchez 20

Well, they don’t sound terribly worried do they??