Leicester vs Arsenal: Huge chance to put down a marker

Fresh off a rather routine 2-0 victory over Leeds United in the Carabao Cup, attention now turns to Leicester City in the Premier League for Arsenal. The last two games feel as if the side has turned a corner, having adopted an attractive style, rediscovered their scoring touch and dominated teams like the years gone by.

Playing Aston Villa, Arsenal barely gave them a look in for the 90 minutes. And then aside from 20 minutes in the first half against Leeds, the Gunners was by far the superior side. As Arsenal advanced to the quarter-final stage it made it eight games unbeaten under Mikel Arteta, however, given the strength of the schedule, this was somewhat expected.

Games against Norwich, Burnley, AFC Wimbledon, Tottenham, Brighton, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa have passed by, with the latest being Leeds in the cup. In all of those games Arsenal were near enough expected to win, even with the clear struggles of the team, as three points were a must due to the ineptitude of the opening few matches. Palace and Brighton games aside, Arsenal under Arteta has shown promise in how they want to play their football.

Next up is Leicester on their own patch where Brendan Rodgers’ team presents a difficult task for Arteta and his men to combat. It will be unlike anything faced in the previous eight fixtures and will be, arguably, the truest test so far. How far this team has come will be known come the final whistle.

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Leicester City is a huge opportunity for Arsenal to plant a stake in the ground and prove that this run under Mikel Arteta is true progression

Leicester has made the King Power Stadium something of a fortress this season with only one home defeat, and there is no shame in losing 1-0 to Manchester City. Or 5-0, right? Like Arsenal, the Foxes are in good form and unbeaten in five games, while in their last home game in the league they put Manchester United to the sword late on in a 4-2 win.

It will be Arsenal and Arteta’s biggest test. On Saturday we will see exactly where they stand in the race for the European places. Currently, both on the same points (14) Arsenal can go all the way up to fifth in the league and only be behind West Ham on goal difference in fourth.

Just a matter of weeks ago, had someone said that Arsenal had the chance to be right in the mix for the top four you would have laughed at them. But, against all the odds, that is what is facing this team. It is a huge opportunity with a lot on the line. Has this run been the sign of progressive improvement or will Arsenal’s worrying inconsistencies rear their ugly heads once more? As we know, when a chance presents itself, this is team is guilty of faltering, and badly. The aim is to ensure this time will be different.

Aside from Tottenham and Brighton with nine apiece, Arsenal is the lowest-scoring team in the top ten places in the Premier League, notching just ten in nine games. You get the feeling more than one goal will be needed on Saturday along with trying to stop the likes of Jamie Vardy, James Maddinson, Youri Tielemans, and Kelechi Iheanacho. Arsenal have scored just once on the road this season – and it was a free-kick.

It is all set up for Arsenal to plant a flag in the ground, to show that all the promise is not a false dawn. Taking on and beating an in-form Leicester City at their ground would do just that. But will it happen? Will the fans get a performance likened to the Villa and Leeds games, or will it be another match in which fans are left wondering where exactly the team sits under Arteta?

Saturday’s game will tell us a lot about Arsenal, either good or bad.