Arsenal vs Leicester: 4 pre-match talking points

Brendan Rodgers and Leicester decided to dispel the ‘bottle job’ label bestowed upon them in recent Premier League seasons by simply not partaking in the top four race entirely. Arsenal are leading it.

Indeed, you can’t throw away a Champions League place if you’re not in it to begin with. Circumstances few expected see these two sides meet on Sunday with eight places and 15 points separating them.

European commitments, injuries and some atrocious defending have all played their part in the Foxes hugely underwhelming campaign. Recording just nine wins from their 25 league outings to date, they’re currently on a run of four in a row in all competitions, including a solid 2-0 victory in the first leg of their Europa Conference League tie with Rennes on Thursday.

For them the only remaining goal is to lift their first ever piece of European silverware, one that grants immediate entry into the Europa League, which they face an uphill battle to qualify for in the Premier League.

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Arsenal vs Leicester: 4 pre-match talking points as Mikel Arteta’s side aim to maintain Premier League top four push on Sunday

Might that see Rodgers rest some players on Sunday? It’s possible, but unlikely.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are aiming to consolidate their spot in fourth, a position they occupied before the weekend began. With 13 matches left to play, the game against Leicester is one of only five against teams in the bottom half of the table.

It’s sure to be an interesting clash. Arsenal have failed to win either of the two previous home meetings with Sunday’s opposition, although the absence of one Jamie Vardy from the visiting squad will be music to pretty much everyone’s ears.

Ahead of the game there are some talking points to delve into, as well as some things we’d like to see from the team.

1. Leicester’s Poor Penalty Record

Top of the charts for most penalties conceded this season is Norwich, whose cycle of being too strong for the Championship and hopelessly too weak for the Premier League looks set to continue.

Given they concede so much possession and don’t even know how to spell the word defend, their tally of ten penalties given away this season is less surprising than it should be. Next in line though? Well it’s Leicester, of course.

Caglar Soyuncu, who was in the PFA Team of the Season two years ago, has looked anything but sturdy at the back, while the £15m signing of Jannik Vestergaard has to go down as one of the worst pieces of business this season. The centre-back has been horrendous.

Injuries to various other defenders, including Wesley Fofana and Jonny Evans, have contributed to the dreadful defensive record, and collectively the team’s six penalties conceded will be food for thought for one Alexandre Lacazette.

Because that’s what we’re looking for, right? A spot-kick is just about the captain’s best chance of scoring, and if Arsenal keep flooding the visitors’ box there are sure to be a few dangling legs hanging around to trip someone up.

Will six become seven?

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