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Premier League | Gameweek 29
Mar 13, 2022 at 4.30pm UK
Emirates Stadium
LL

Arsenal
2 - 0
Leicester

Partey (11'), Lacazette (59' pen.)
FT(HT: 1-0)

Iheanacho (30'), Soyuncu (58'), Daka (80')

Preview: Arsenal vs. Leicester City - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Arsenal vs. Leicester City - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Sunday's Premier League clash between Arsenal and Leicester City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Arsenal will aim to consolidate their hold on fourth spot in the Premier League table when Leicester City visit the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Mikel Arteta's side survived a scare to overcome Watford 3-2 last time out, while the Foxes arrive having claimed a 2-0 advantage in the first leg of their Europa Conference League last-16 tie with Rennes.


Match preview

The goal of the day award may have been deservedly claimed by Watford's Cucho Hernandez, but Arsenal's young prospects came up with three eye-catching strikes of their own to propel themselves into fourth place after a five-goal thriller at Vicarage Road.

Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli all came up with the goods for the Gunners - who held on after a nervy few moments following Moussa Sissoko's finish - and a spot in the Champions League is now Arsenal's to lose.

The Gunners remain in fourth place at the time of writing but will likely have dropped down a place before kickoff with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur facing off on Saturday, but knowing that at least one of their top-four rivals will drop points can only be a good thing.

Written off by many in the top-four race before the season began, Arsenal have now strung together a four-game winning streak in the Premier League - averaging two goals per game in that stretch - but Arteta was less than happy after the Watford win as his side once again won by just a one-goal margin.

Not since the Boxing Day thumping of Norwich City have Arsenal won by more, but a tally of 25 points from their last 10 games is the joint-highest in the league behind Manchester City, and only the champions and Liverpool have performed better at home than the optimistic Gunners this term.

Things may finally be looking up for this patchy Leicester City side, who followed up their 1-0 victory over Jesse Marsch's Leeds United with a professional showing in the Conference League against Rennes at the King Power.

Marc Albrighton struck first for the Foxes on the 30-minute mark before substitute Kelechi Iheanacho made sure of the result in the last knockings of the encounter, with Brendan Rodgers's side now boasting a healthy advantage before their journey to Roazhon Park.

Also stringing together a four-game winning run ahead of this game - in all competitions rather than the Premier League - Leicester have a top-half finish firmly in their sights and currently occupy 12th spot, just two points behind 10th-placed Southampton with three games in hand.

Failure to collect silverware or qualify for Europe will no doubt go down as a disappointing season for an injury-hit Leicester, who have won just one of their last seven top-flight matches away from home and may seek to prioritise European success amid their dismal domestic fortunes.

Rodgers did steer his side to a 1-0 win at the Emirates last term, but Arsenal prevailed 2-0 at the King Power back in October - thanks in no small part to the heroics of Aaron Ramsdale - and the absence of Arsenal's nemesis Jamie Vardy will play right into the hosts' hands.

Arsenal Premier League form:
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W

Arsenal form (all competitions):
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W

Leicester City Premier League form:
  • D
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • W

Leicester City form (all competitions):
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W

Team News

Arsenal's Emile Smith Rowe is expected to be back in the squad this weekend after a bout of COVID-19, but Takehiro Tomiyasu remains a doubt with his troublesome calf issue.

The Gunners are otherwise in good shape for the meeting with Leicester and have no need to alter a winning formula, with Cedric Soares once again preparing to deputise for Tomiyasu.

Despite failing to find the back of the net for the sixth Premier League game running, Alexandre Lacazette provided two assists at Vicarage Road and will expect to fend off competition from Eddie Nketiah for the number nine spot.

As for Leicester, Vardy - whose 11 goals in meetings with Arsenal is the most against any side he has faced - has picked up a fresh knee injury and will not be available for the Emirates trip.

Jonny Evans, Ryan Bertrand and Timothy Castagne are keeping Vardy company in the treatment room, and it remains to be seen if Ricardo Pereira will be fit for Sunday after a setback in his recovery from a thigh issue.

Wesley Fofana's potential comeback against Rennes was ruined by a positive COVID-19 test, and the 21-year-old - who has just recovered from a devastating fractured fibula - will likely be available for the second leg with the French side rather than the clash with the Gunners.

Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Ramsdale; Cedric, White, Gabriel, Tierney; Xhaka, Partey; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Lacazette

Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Justin, Amartey, Soyuncu, Thomas; Ndidi, Tielemans; Albrighton, Maddison, Barnes; Iheanacho


We say: Arsenal 3-1 Leicester City

Leicester could very well have conceded at least one or two to Leeds on another day, and a fatigued Foxes without Vardy facing his favourite opponent cannot expect much at the fortress that is the Emirates.

Smith Rowe's expected return will only add to Arsenal's cutting edge - not that they needed it against Watford - and Arteta's in-form crop should prevail with minimal difficulty.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a home win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home Win:data




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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal33235577265174
2Liverpool33228375324374
3Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle321551269521750
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd32155124748-150
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea31138106152947
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves33127144653-743
12Fulham34126165054-442
13Bournemouth33119134860-1242
14Crystal Palace3399154256-1436
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton33108153448-1430
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3337233188-5716
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