Premier League: Arsenal are on a Fox Hunt

Arsenal vs Leicester City

After a difficult campaign, the Foxes have pulled away from danger and are on a good run. But they have suffered a new injury to star player Jamie Vardy and that will do nothing for their morale, while it is good news for the Gunners.

Last week, Arsenal made it four Premier League wins in a row with a 3-2 triumph away to Watford, while Leicester had a Thursday night Europa League 2-0 win over Ligue 1 side Rennes and so have only two full days to prepare for this fixture. 

And that gives Arsenal, who are in superb form, a great chance to cement their top four place.  

Talking Points

Gunners are firing now

The latest Premier League 2022 betting odds are backing Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal to win that coveted last Champions League spot and it’s certainly in Gunners’ hands as they are a point ahead of Manchester United having played three games fewer than the Red Devils.

And with fifth-placed United facing Spurs who are currently in seventh – three points back and having played a game more than Arsenal – one or both of the Gunners’ main rivals will drop more points this weekend.  

The departure of Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang has left Arsenal short of a proven striker but Arteta’s team has thrived since the Gabon striker set sail for Barcelona.

Surely, the Arsenal head coach has been talking to his old boss Pep Guardiola, who’s Manchester City are happily beating all comers without a scoring centre-forward.

Emile Smith-Rowe with nine goals and Bukayo Saka with eight have been a revelation for Arsenal this season. And with the pace and skill of Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli alongside them, they have a look of the Sky Blues – attacking in numbers with quick passing movements.   

And the fact that the Gunners have had no European commitments this season has surely helped, while their top four rivals have been heavily involved as have their next opponents. 

Vardy blow for Foxes

Having so recently returned from injury with a goal in the Foxes’ 2-0 win at Burnley, Leicester’s 35-year-old talisman Jamie Vardy is injured again.

The fit again Harvey Barnes combined well with Vardy during Leicester’s 1-0 win over Jesse Marsch’s Leeds United, but the veteran striker was taken off on the hour and is now looking at a few more weeks sidelined with a new knee injury.

Even though he’s been out for long periods this season, Vardy is still the Foxes’ top scorer with 10 goals. His absence is a serious blow to the Foxes, whose recent Premier League 2022 results have been much improved.

Barnes’ return is a bright note for Rodgers, but neither Dakson Pata nor Ademola Lookman has the composure of Vardy in front of goal and creative midfielder James Maddison needs to find some consistency.

Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans has shown glimpse of his best again in recent weeks, so the Foxes do have an attacking threat. But it is at the other end of the pitch where much of the game will be played.

And a defence without the injured Jonny Evans as well as a counterattack without Vardy make Leicester much more beatable.   

History

Arsenal have been well on top in the head-to-head encounters, winning 19 to the Foxes’ five and there have been eight draws in all competitions in the Premier League era.

When the two sides met in October, Arsenal won 2-0 as Smith-Rowe and Gabriel gave them a victory which enabled them to climb from 10^th to sixth in the table, having started the game behind the Foxes who finished the weekend in 10^th.

While their paths have gone in opposite directions since, both teams have been in great form recently, winning four on the bounce.

But the Gunners’ four wins have all been in the Premier League, while the Foxes have had two victories in the Europa Conference League and their victory over Leeds was very much against the run of play.  

Betting Tip

Leicester are at a SBOTOP price of 5.80 to win this game and 4.20 to draw and that means Arsenal are hot favourites at odds of 1.48 to take all three points.

They made a fast start in their victory over Watford last week and I’m backing them to score before the break.

For a correct scoreline 2-1 at odds of 6.56 is as likely as any.

 

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