Premier League: Leicester Pose Another Big Test for Arsenal

Leicester City vs Arsenal

Arsenal are back on top of the Premier League and, once again, they have the task of staying there; but a match away to improving Leicester City is one heck of a challenge.

The Gunners are two points clear at the top, partly thanks to Manchester City failing to beat Nottingham Forest last week while Mikel Arteta’s side rode their luck in the Midlands. They come into the game on the back of a thrilling 4-2 win away to Aston Villa while Leicester ended a run of encouraging Premier League 2023 results with a 3-0 loss to Manchester United.

That defeat means Brendan Rodgers’ team still has work to do to ensure they don’t get embroiled in a relegation scrap. The Premier League 2023 betting odds are encouraging, offering a price of 9.00 on the Foxes taking the drop, alongside Crystal Palace at those odds and better off than seven teams.

So while Leicester sit only four points above the drop zone, Arsenal can view this as an away game to a team in top-ten form.  

It’s going to be a belter!    

Talking Points

Maddison vs Saka

Both Leicester and Arsenal have a special talent in their ranks, the Gunners have more than one of course but, when he’s on form, James Maddison can transform the Foxes, and he has very similar statistics this season to Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka. Both have scored nine goals and they haven’t been shy of getting stuck in, the Leicester man is edging the yellow card count by six to five.  

Saka has made eight assists while Maddison has made five, so the Arsenal star can claim to be more productive among a side which shares out the goals. But Maddison is clearly a confidence player and with goals in two recent wins he’s starting to get back to his best. I wouldn’t back against either of these stars getting on the score sheet on Saturday.

Foxes determined to maintain momentum

Leicester’s match against Manchester United started brightly for the Foxes but it ended in a 3-0 defeat which broke a run of three consecutive wins for the Foxes, including a 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur and a 4-2 win against Aston Villa both in the league. Rodgers has insisted the defeat hasn’t stopped his team’s momentum after they headed to Old Trafford full of confidence. Red Devils keeper David de Gea made two brilliant saves before United opened the scoring and Marcel Sabitzer was very lucky to avoid a red card for his horror challenge on Wout Faes.

The Foxes faded in the second half but they are ready to go again. 

Jorginho’s arrival is timely for Arsenal   

Arsenal’s 4-2 win away to Aston Villa ended a run of four games without a victory and it was a goal from new signing Jorginho which made it 3-2 late in the match. He fired in a superb strike which hit the bar and then bounced into the goal off Villa keeper Emi Martinez’ head, which the Italian won’t mind one bit! His arrival coincided with an injury to Thomas Partey who has been an integral part of the Gunners midfield this season, linking up with the rejuvenated Granit Xhaka.    

There is a chance that Partey may be fit to face the Foxes and that will give Arteta a dilemma around whether he can fit all three into a midfield and sacrifice one of his more creative players. I suspect the boss may start with Partey on the bench. 

This is a game Arsenal really need to attack and, at SBOTOP odds of 2.05 to win the league, if they can pick up all three points the Gunners can rightly claim to be back on track.   

History

With 21 wins to five the Gunners have enjoyed this fixture in the Premier League era and they have won the last four encounters, including an entertaining 4-2 victory at the Emirates back in August. Maddison gave the Foxes hope at 3-2, with 15 minutes remaining but Gabriel Martinelli made the game safe with Arsenal’s fourth.

While they had contrasting fortunes last time out the recent form certainly favours Leicester, with three wins, one draw and one defeat from five, while Arsenal have had three defeats, one win and one draw.  

Betting Tip

1.67 on the Gunners to win looks small to me, with the Foxes at 3.83 to win and 3.73 to draw.  A 1-1 draw is the most likely score line at odds of 6.56 and an alternative bet on 2-3 goals is at a price of 1.88.

 

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