Leicester City vs. Arsenal: Match preview and projected lineups

It’s the champions versus the runners-up this week as the fantastic Foxes of Leicester City host Arsenal.

In week one, Leicester stumbled out of the blocks against a hungry looking Hull City, losing to the Premier League newcomers, 2-1. With Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy now firmly secured to the Foxes team for the foreseeable future, Claudio Ranieri and company look to score the first points of the campaign in front of their home crows.

Meanwhile in Ashburton Grove, Arsenal fell to a live wire Liverpool side in an instant classic, 4-3. Aaron Ramsey and Alex Iwobi added injury to insult during the game, finding themselves amongst the growing injury-riddled squad being assembled in the physio room for the next month or so.

However, with the European Championships fondly glowing in the rearview mirror, Mesut Ozil, Laurent Koscielny, and Olivier Giroud could re-energize the gloomy Gunners.

LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 14 : Olivier Giroud of Arsenal shoots during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium on February 14, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images) /

Notes

Venue: King Power Stadium, Leicester, UK

Referee: Mark Clattenberg

All-Time Record: Leicester City 29W-43D-63W Arsenal

Previous Matchup: Feb 14, 2016; Arsenal 2-1 Leicester City

Predicted Score: Leicester City 1-1 Arsenal

Lineups

Leicester City: Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Drinkwater, King, Mahrez, Okazaki, Gray; Vardy

Subs: Zieler, Chilwell, James, Mendy, Musa, Amartey, Hernández, Kapustka, Schlupp, Ulloa, Wasilewski

Arsenal: Cech; Bellerin, Chambers, Koscielny, Monreal; Xhaka, Cazorla, Walcott, Ozil, Sanchez; Giroud

Subs: Ospina, Martínez, Debuchy, Holding, Gibbs, Coquelin, Elneny, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Reine-Adelaide, Akpom, Campbell

Injuries

Leicester City: None

Arsenal: Giroud (fitness), Welbeck, Mertesacker (knee), Gabriel (ankle), Jenkinson (knee), Ramsey (hamstring), Iwobi (thigh)

LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 14 : Nacho Monreal of Arsenal brings down Jamie Vardy of Leicester City in the penalty area during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium on February 14, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images) /

As one of the early season highlight games for both of these teams, each team needs a result in their favor to kick-start their season.

Leicester City will have the advantage of coming home after a surprising loss to Hull City to the comfort of their home fans. The King Power Stadium is almost certain to be packed to the rafters for the first home game of the season for the champions. A home game can help stir any team into action and to better performance, let alone the long-odds, defending champion of one of the most prestigious leagues on the planet.

Arsenal are not quite in crisis mode just yet, but that “Red Alert” light in the board room at the Emirates Stadium has been flashing for a second or two in recent weeks. Slipping into their annual mid-season metaphorical sweater, crafted from the finest injuries and out of form key players, the Gunners need something to go their way this week. Thankfully, history is on their side in this fixture.

The last time Leicester City defeated Arsenal was way back in 1994. Back then Tony Adams captained the side, Blackburn Rovers won the league, and Eric Cantona found a particular displeasure in the face of a Crystal Palace fan.

Leicester City vs. Arsenal: Match preview and projected lineups

By Brandon Boyer | Aug 19, 2016

It’s the champions versus the runners-up this week as the fantastic Foxes of Leicester City host Arsenal.

Notes

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Lineups

Injuries