Arsenal: 4 things we’d like to see vs Leicester

Saturday is set up to be an enticing encounter as Arsenal travel to the King Power Stadium to take on a Leicester side chasing similar ambitions this season.

Prior to the Premier League starting the division is usually separated into the groups of teams vying for certain goals: Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool were an almost set in stone top four troupe.

Below that are the teams aiming for European competitions: West Ham, Leicester, Tottenham, Everton and Arsenal were the main contenders. The likes of Aston Villa and Leeds will have also laid claim to be involved in there, while Brighton have been the surprise package this term.

United’s current misery is seeing a gaping hole vacated in the top four hunt, a spot which many of the teams fighting slightly below may now be setting their sights on. Arsenal and Leicester will have internal ambitions to put a cat among the pigeons.

4 things we’d like to see from Arsenal against Leicester as Mikel Arteta’s side take on the Foxes in Saturday’s Premier League clash

With eight games unbeaten in all competitions and nine played in the league, the clash with Brendan Rodgers’ side constitutes the first away trip for Arsenal against a team in that section below the top four.

It is by all accounts a huge meeting, one that can have a big psychological impact as well as affecting the look of the table.

This is a true test of Arteta’s side and is set to offer the biggest indication yet of whether or not this team has the capacity to continue growing and eventually challenging at the right end of the Premier League (not the top four, we hasten to add).

How will it pan out? It’s near impossible to call; Leicester’s defensive record is among the worst this campaign while Arsenal haven’t exactly been pulling up trees on the road. Alas, here’s what we’d like to see against the Foxes.

1. Prove That This Confidence Isn’t Selective

The way Arsenal put Aston Villa to the sword last time out in the league was not only a confidence boost for the supporters who feared the worst pre-game. Fans saw the limpness of what took place a few days prior, witnessing a side that retreated into its shell, fearful instead of front-footed.

To then host the Villans and not only start with intensity and purpose but the sustain it for long enough that the result was beyond doubt demonstrated the self-belief this squad has. That was a team that believed in itself to play the style they’re capable of. It was no holds barred football.

What is key to remember in this recent run is that Arsenal have played five of their last six matches on home soil. Of all six of those games, the weakest showing of all came in the only away fixture: the 0-0 draw with Brighton.

Backed by an invigorated Emirates crowd who’ve been spectacular all season, the added benefit of their backing has spurred the team on to positive results. While the away following is and always has been equally spectacular, the players need to show that their confidence to play isn’t reserved for north London.

Home form has been Arteta’s Achilles heel during his tenure, especially last season, so the team’s ability to transmit the energy and approach they’ve shown at the Emirates into tough away grounds against fellow European hopefuls will be arguably the biggest test of all.

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