Arsenal Head to Leicester Looking to Return to Winning Ways — Match Preview

Arsenal travel to Leicester aiming to get back to winning ways and extend their unbeaten league run following a 10-day training camp in Dubai.

The Gunners face newly promoted Leicester City in an early kick-off this Saturday after using their time abroad to recharge and prepare for the crucial phase of the season.

The Foxes are deep in the relegation battle, sitting 18th in the Premier League table, just one point behind 17th-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Unlike Arsenal, Leicester featured in the FA Cup fourth round last Friday, losing 2-1 to Manchester United after a controversial late winner. It was their fourth defeat in their last five games across all competitions.

Under Ruud van Nistelrooy, Leicester have lost their last four Premier League matches without scoring. They now risk becoming only the fourth team in top-flight history to lose five consecutive home games without finding the net. Furthermore, they have conceded two or more goals in eight of their last nine matches at the King Power Stadium.

Arsenal, in contrast, are unbeaten in 14 Premier League games, winning nine and drawing five since their last defeat away to Newcastle in November. This is their longest unbeaten league run since the 2010/11 season under Arsène Wenger.

Mikel Arteta's side have also collected more points than any other team from matchday 11 onwards, amassing 32. They have a dominant record against teams in the relegation zone, having won 21 of their last 25 league matches against sides positioned in the bottom three at the time.

Since taking charge, Arteta has faced Leicester nine times, winning seven and dropping points only twice—both matches coming in 2020 when games were played behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In their last meeting, Arsenal won 4-2 at the Emirates Stadium, scoring twice in added time. The Gunners registered 36 shots and accumulated an xG of 4.11—their highest in a single match this season.

After Wednesday's 2-2 draw between Everton and Liverpool in the Merseyside derby, Arsenal have the chance to close the gap to four points before Liverpool host Wolves on Sunday.

What the Manager Says

Here's what Arteta said in Friday's press conference ahead of tomorrow's game:

On whether Ethan Nwaneri could replace Kai Havertz up front:

"I think it's more a question of when rather than if. He has real quality. He's been playing as an attacking midfielder and on the right wing, and I think he's done really well in those positions, so that's fine."

On whether he is tempted to rush Bukayo Saka back from injury:

"I don't know. When a player has a long-term injury, what does 'faster' mean? In a 10-day injury, three days is a lot—it's 30%—but in a three-month injury, a week isn't much. It's too early; he's still in the early stages of rehab. Once he starts doing more demanding work, we'll see where he is. There's been no setback—he's fine."

On his reaction to Everton's last-minute equaliser against Liverpool:

"I better not tell you the full story of what happened! It was funny—I was watching on a tablet, lost connection, and suddenly we didn't know what was going on. That's the beauty of football—the uncertainty. It's really difficult to win matches in this league. That's why the hope and ambition are always there, because doing it consistently for 10 months is a massive challenge."

On Liverpool dropping points:

"When the gap becomes smaller than expected, it's always a positive. We need to generate momentum, and the next few weeks will be critical in determining where we stand after the international break, with only six or seven weeks left in the season."

On the causes of the team's injury problems:

"You can't prove it, so the evidence we have is very limited. Every case is different. Some injuries are clearly linked to load and minutes—that's inevitable. Some of our players have played 130 games in the last two seasons. At some point, if you keep pushing, an injury is bound to happen. Is it this season? Is it accumulated fatigue? Stress? Luck? Preparation? Methodology? There are many factors, and it's hard to pinpoint one cause. But the schedule is demanding, and for explosive players, in particular, it becomes a real challenge."

On whether 15-year-old Max Dowman could be involved:

"We had Max and many other young players with us in Dubai. It was a great opportunity to see them in our environment. The rules on age restrictions are clear, though, and difficult to change."

On whether Arsenal could sign a free agent:

"We'll explore every possibility and make a decision from there."

Team News

As reported by the club on Thursday, Kai Havertz tore his hamstring during a training session in Dubai and will miss the rest of the season. He will undergo surgery in the coming days. Arteta confirmed the injury occurred during a set-piece drill when Havertz attempted to block a shot.

Gabriel Martinelli suffered a hamstring injury in the Carabao Cup match against Newcastle and is expected to be sidelined for over a month.

Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka remain out with knee and hamstring injuries, respectively. Despite online speculation, Arteta confirmed that Saka has not suffered a setback in his recovery.

Takehiro Tomiyasu will also miss this fixture and remains out indefinitely.

Ben White, however, has recovered from a knee injury and is available for selection after traveling with the squad to Dubai.

For Leicester, Issahaku Fatawu and Nathaniel Opoku are both sidelined with long-term injuries.

Ricardo Pereira will miss the game due to a muscular issue, while Harry Souttar remains out with an ankle injury.

Match Officials

Referee: Sam Barrott (also officiated the reverse fixture in September)

Assistant referees: Tim Wood & Wade Smith

Fourth Official: Oliver Langford

VAR: Paul Tierney

Assistant VAR: Natalie Aspinall