Arsenal vs Leicester City: Preview & Prediction

Premier League leaders will be looking to record their fourth straight league win when they visit fellow title contenders Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium at midday.

The Foxes, who impressively thumped fourth-placed Manchester City 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium last Saturday, are now five points clear at the summit ahead of current runners-up Tottenham.

Meanwhile fellow North London outfit Arsenal lie in third spot, level on points with Spurs, after comfortably getting back to winning ways with a 2-0 away triumph down in Bournemouth last weekend.

The Gunners won September’s reverse fixture 5-2, one of only two league defeats suffered by Claudio Ranieri’s hosts throughout the entire 2015-16 season.

Arsene Wenger’s side are also the only Premier League club left that can complete the league double over the league leaders this campaign.

That statistic is backed up by the fact that the Foxes have not won against Arsenal in their last 18 encounters, making this afternoon’s task of collecting three points all the more challenging.

Chile international Alexis Sanchez will fancy his chances of scoring at the Emirates today as half of his six league goals this term came against Leicester in the thrilling 5-2 victory back in September.

Meanwhile Gabriel boasts a proud record, with the centre-half having conceded just ONE goal this season when completing 90 minutes in an Arsenal shirt.

But in this crazy Premier League campaign; Leicester’s incredible turnaround from relegation contenders to Premier League title favourites have seen the Foxes lose just once on the road in their last 16 away league matches, winning ten.

The hosts’ goalkeeper Petr Cech will have to be on his toes for the entirety of the game as Ranieri’s men have scored 47 league goals in 25 matches so far, a joint-league high alongside Manchester City.

Leicester are also just as effective at the back, with goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel keeping five clean sheets in his last seven league outings.

Star man Riyad Mahrez has also become the first player to reach double figures in both goals scored (14) and assists (10) provided this campaign.

Team News:

Gunners boss Wenger has now fresh injury concerns ahead of the league leaders’ visit to London.

Defensive midfielder Francis Coquelin is pushing for a recall, whilst striker Danny Welbeck could be included in the matchday squad for the very first time this season following his long-term knee injury.

Leicester are expected to name an unchanged side at the Emirates this Sunday, although January addition Daniel Amartey could be named among the substitutes for the first time.

However the game is out of reach for the Foxes’ likes of long-term absentees Jeff Schlupp (Hamstring) and Matty James (ACL Knee).

League Positions: Arsenal – 3rd (48 pts); Leicester – 1st (53 pts)
Previous Meeting: Leicester 2-5 Arsenal – September 26, 2015
League Form: Arsenal – WDDLDW; Leicester – DWDWWW
Key Players: Arsenal – Mesut Ozil; Leicester – Riyad Mahrez
Shoot Says: Arsenal 1-1 Leicester