LEICESTER v ARSENAL PREVIEW BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE Venue: King Power Stadium Date: Sunday, 31 August TEAM NEWS Leicester could hand a debut to former Inter Milan and Argentina midfielder Esteban Cambiasso if he receives international clearance in time. Definitely unavailable for the Foxes are midfielder Matty James and Matthew Upson, who have shin and foot injuries respectively. Arsenal are without injured trio Kieran Gibbs, Mikel Arteta and Olivier Giroud. The game may come too soon for David Ospina but Aaron Ramsey returns after serving a one-game European ban. MATCH PREVIEW There was good news and bad news this week for Arsenal. They survived a tricky Champions League qualifier with a goal worth an estimated £25m from new signing Alexis Sanchez, but lost fellow striker Olivier Giroud for a lengthy spell through injury, tempering their early-season optimism. How they cope with the loss of Girouds physical presence while he recovers from surgery on a broken leg will be key. Despite being linked with the likes of Loic Remy, Radamel Falcao and even Nicola Zigic, manager Arsene Wenger is more likely to be in the market for another defender or defensive midfielder before the window shuts. LAWROS PREDICTION Mark Lawrenson Football analyst Nigel Pearsons Foxes - as weve seen this season - are very much a high energy team, with pace up front and wide players that get at you, early doors. Theyll have to wait a bit longer for their first win though. Sanchez, Yaya Sanogo, Lukas Podolski, Joel Campbell and Theo Walcott can all play as a central striker, although most cannot be considered like-for-like replacements for last seasons top scorer. None of the promoted sides have managed a win prior to this weekend, but Leicester have not looked out of their depth in their first two games. A 2-2 draw with Everton on the opening day was creditable and as good as Arsenal could manage last week. And though the Foxes were beaten 2-0 at Chelsea, they wont be the only side to lose at Stamford Bridge this season. The arrival of the vastly experienced Esteban Cambiasso from Inter Milan on a one-year deal this week is quite a coup for the club. The 34-year-old Argentine won five league titles and the Champions League during a 10-year spell with the Nerazzurri. Leicester have won only one of 16 league games with Arsenal in the Premier League and that was 20 years ago, at Filbert Street in November 1994. The fact that Arsene Wenger wasnt yet Arsenals manager at the time makes you realise it was a long time ago! MATCH FACTS Head-to-head Arsene Wenger has never lost a Premier League game against Leicester. However, he was in charge when the Gunners exited in the FA Cup fourth round in 2000 after a penalty shoot-out defeat to the Foxes. Leicester have won just one of 16 Premier League games against Arsenal (W1, D5, L10). Their sole victory was 2-1 at Filbert Street on 23 November 1994. Arsenals last match against Leicester was their 38th and final game of the 2003-04 league season, when the Gunners Invincibles ended the campaign unbeaten. Leicester City The Foxes have won just one of their last 14 Premier League home games (D9, L4) - a 3-1 victory against Portsmouth on 8 May 2004. However, Leicester had the best home record in the Championship last season, winning 17 of their 23 fixtures and only losing twice. They also averaged two goals per game at the King Power Stadium. They have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 10 top-flight fixtures. Kasper Schmeichel made eight saves against Chelsea, more than any player in a Premier League game this season (prior to this weekend). Arsenal In each of Arsenals two Premier League games this season their opponents have scored with their first shot on target. Last weekends 2-2 draw at Everton was the first time Arsenal have hit back from two goals down to claim a point away from home since doing likewise at West Brom in March 2011. The draw at Goodison Park ended Arsenals run of six successive Premier League wins. Aaron Ramsey has netted in four of his last five Premier League games for Arsenal. BBC
Posted on: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 11:29:00 +0000
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