Arsenal, for the first time in a very long time will have all their first team members available for a matchday following the recovery of Emile Smith Rowe, Takehiro Tomiyasu and summer signing, Fabio Vieira.
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The trio were pictured in full training on Tuesday having missed the preseason games as well as the opening weekend win at Crystal Palace, albeit Emile Smith Rowe did feature against Nuremberg in Germany, he was also sidelined in their tour of the US.
This is a really big boost for the Gunners heading into not only the gameweek but the season given the poor injury record at the club not only in recent times but have been associated with such poor luck.
It also speaks volume of how much efforts being employed to ensure the success of the project undertaken by the club and huge credits to the medical team, led by the long serving Gary O’Driscoll.
Arsenal face Leicester City on Saturday afternoon, unlike last season when both sides clash at the King Power in an early kickoff with goals from Gabriel Magalhães and Emile Smith Rowe sealing the win for Mikel Arteta’s side, this time, Arsenal plays first at home.
The Gunners have won each of their last three games against Leicester City and did not concede in both of their meetings last season, with Aaron Ramsdale forced into making jaw dropping saves in both legs from a James Maddison free-kick and Harvey Barnes’ header respectively.
Having surrendered a two goal lead to draw 2-2 against Brentford at the King Power in their opening weekend fixture, manager Brendan Rodgers will have reasons to worry of his sides’ chances against a much improved Arsenal.
Jamie Vardy has scored eleven goals against Arsenal, more than he has versus any other opponent. However, the striker has failed to score in his last two games against the Gunners, but has never gone three without one against them.
The opposing No.9, Gabriel Jesus has scored five times against Leicester City and having failed to score on his debut last week, the Brazilian will be hoping to finally get off the mark with his first competitive goals for his new club.
Jesus has also ended up on the winning side in his seven games against Leicester and will be hoping to continue this run to see his new club make it two wins from two at the Emirates.
In their last 15 Premier League games, Arsenal have won all when leading at the break and have lost all whenever they had failed to score in the first half.
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In their two wins over Leicester City last season, early goals was the key. The two goals in the first leg have been scored as early as the 18th minute and in the second leg, a Thomas Partey’s header from a corner in the 11th minute had them in front before Alexandre Lacazette added a second just before the hour mark from the spot.
Brendan Rodgers will be hopeful his side can fend off early pressure from the host as Mikel Arteta’s side have looked literally unplayable in the early exchange of their games lately.
Seeing the game level beyond half time will boost their chances of taking a positive result away from the match. The reputation of Jamie Vardy in this fixture will also be something the manager will hope can save their day.
Jamie Vardy has however gone two games without scoring against Arsenal and has never gone three without scoring against them. The striker will be looking to open his account for the new season on Saturday in London.
Predict lineup: Arsenal: Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka, Martin Ødegaard Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka.
Leicester City: Danny Ward, Wesley Fofana, Jonny Evans, Daniel Amartey, Timothy Castagne, Youri Tielemans, Wilfred Ndidi, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, James Justin, James Maddison, Jamie Vardy.
Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi
1 Comment
Good job brother.