Arsenal need a league run to prepare for the FA Cup Final

Match Preview: Arsenal vs. Leicester - Premier League - 26.04.2017

Last season saw this fixture end 2-1 in favour of Wenger’s men, with Welbeck bagging a last minute winner. It was a result that filled Arsenal with title hopes but the following two fixtures - losses to Manchester United and Swansea City in almost identical fashion - ended those hopes. However, picking themselves up from those back to back defeats saw Arsenal go on a 10 match unbeaten run to finish in 2nd place ahead of Tottenham. Could they go on another unbeaten run to usurp their annoyingly good neighbours?

It is unlikely. Arsenal do have a game in hand over Tottenham who play Crystal Palace tonight but even if the Eagles manage to stall Sp*rs, Arsenal win their game in hand AND down the Spuds on Sunday they'll still be 5 points behind with just three games left. The odds do not look good. Finishing behind Tottenham will hurt our pride but let us not forget that we've finished ahead of them for 21 seasons in a row during which time we won 3 league titles, more than their entire history, reached 8 FA Cup finals, winning 6 with one to play and qualified for the Champions League for 20 seasons. They've won a league cup and got into the top four a handful of times.

It's crap to know they're better than us this season but it's not the end of the world. We still have the overall bragging rights and talk of a power shift are 15 odd trophies short. The focus for Arsenal now must be on finishing the season with unstoppable momentum to take in to the FA Cup final against Chelsea and deny the Champions-elect a shot at a double.

Leicester have been somewhat resurgent under Craig Shakespeare's leadership winning 5 of their last 7 league matches. The Foxes are relatively safe from the drop but that will make them no more complacent. They are still the reigning Champions and have a dangerous team that could cause Arsenal further heartache. The advent of our new 3-4-3 formation has added some much needed confidence with the team adapting admirably in the last two games. 

Arsène Wenger believes the new system gives a bit more defensive security and allows certain players to express their attacking ability on the pitch. How this will fare against Leicester will be interesting as although they have troublesome pace on the flanks and upfront with Jamie Vardy their defenders can be a tad sluggish. Getting them on the half turn and putting slide rule passes in behind at an angle could yield some joy. 

Arsenal's new look defence boasts pace and determination with Gabriel and Holding in particular impressing in a back three. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has impressed at right wing-back but may start on the bench as a precaution after picking up a knock. Hector Bellerin looked out of sorts for a number of weeks but two matches on the bench may have been just what he needed to recharge his batteries. 

Should The Gunners continue with the same determination, fight and concentration that saw of Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final then we could see another solid three points tonight to keep the momentum going. COYG!

Last 3 Meetings

• Leicester 0-0 Arsenal (20.08.2016)
• Arsenal 2-1 Leicester (14.02.2016)
• Leicester 2-5 Arsenal (26.09.2015)

FACTFILE

• Arsenal are unbeaten in 20 league games against Leicester (W14, D6), and have won three of the last four meetings.
• The Gunners have won nine of the 10 times they have hosted Leicester in the Premier League. The only blip was the first of those meetings, a 1-1 draw in north London in 1995.
• It's a match between the two teams who finished first and second in last season's Premier League.
• Arsenal have lost three of their last six Premier League matches (W2, D1).
• They haven't won back-to-back league games since January.
• The Gunners have 57 points after 31 games. After 31 games last season they had 58 points and eventually finished second.
• Theo Walcott has found the net in three of his four Premier League appearances against Leicester, including in both home games.
• Alexis Sanchez has scored 19 Premier League goals this season. One more would make him the fifth Arsenal player to score 20+ goals in a Premier League campaign (after Thierry Henry, Ian Wright, Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor.
• Leicester have won five of their last seven league matches (D1, L1).
• The Foxes have picked up four points in their three Premier League away games under Craig Shakespeare, more than they had managed in the previous 13 under Claudio Ranieri.
• Leicester have scored at least two goals in every one of their seven Premier League matches under Shakespeare (17 goals in total). Their previous 17 Premier League goals came over a period of 20 matches.
• Jamie Vardy has been involved in eight goals in his last seven Premier League appearances since Shakespeare's appointment (six goals, two assists). He has scored Leicester's last three goals against Arsenal in the Premier League, scoring the opening goal twice. However, he is yet to end up on the winning side.
• Three of Robert Huth's last five Premier League goals for Leicester City have come away to London sides.

INJURIES

Cazorla and Mustafi.

POSSIBLE STARTING XI

Cech, Gabriel, Holding, Koscielny, Bellerin, Ramsey, Xhaka, Monreal, Alexis, Özil, Welbeck.

Goonersphere's Prediction

Arsenal 2-0 Leicester

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