Premier League Preview: Arsenal vs Leicester City – Stats & Prediction

Arsenal's pursuit of their first Premier League title since 2003-04 resumes this weekend as they entertain newcomers Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday. And for fans of US sports looking to catch up on the latest NHL games, you can use a VPN to bypass NHL blackouts on ESPN, meaning you can follow both Arsenal and NHL this weekend live online.

Mikel Arteta had to swallow a bitter pill last weekend as his 10-man Gunners side conceded a last-gasp equaliser in a 2-2 draw against fellow title rivals Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola insists his relationship with his former protege remains 'strong,' as per RTE, yet the fallout was inevitable after an intense game at the Etihad Stadium.

Despite Leandro Trossard's bizarre red card towards the end of the first half, Arsenal fought tooth and nail to protect a slender advantage, only to be pegged back by John Stones' 97th-minute tap-in.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher compared Arsenal's second-half approach with Jose Mourinho's notorious 'park the bus' tactics on The Overlap.

However, accusations of deploying the so-called 'dark arts,' involving a deep defensive line and time wasting, have fallen on Arteta's deaf ears following an ill-tempered game at the Etihad.

Leicester's visit to North London is a presentable opportunity for the Gunners to silence their critics and return to winning ways amid an ever-growing injury crisis.

Steve Cooper's charges have been up the creek without a paddle since regaining their top-flight status, going winless in all five league games this season (D3, L2).

An ominous-looking trip to the capital threatens to deepen the Foxes' troubles, even though they held Arsenal's neighbours Tottenham Hotspur to a 1-1 draw on the opening Premier League weekend.

Time to Put 'No Odegaard, No Party' Assumption to Bed

Martin Odegaard has been Arsenal's driving force in the past few years, soaking up the limelight as the 'puppet master' pulling all the strings in the final third.

His absence due to injury has taken the wind out of the Gunners' sails, but it's time for Arteta's team to prove they can perform at the highest level without their talismanic playmaker.

Before a first-half double against Man City, Arsenal had netted under 1.5 goals in three consecutive outings across all competitions, raising questions over their capacity to score without Odegaard. 

A brilliant set-piece set-up has helped the Gunners navigate this hardship, with two of their three goals across the last three matches coming from corners.

Fans expect more goals from open play as Arteta's men return to the Emirates, where they've won three of their last five league games without conceding (W4, D1).

Another triumphant afternoon looms, not least because of Arsenal's formidable home record against Leicester.

North London - A Place of Leicester's Undoing 

The Foxes have claimed just one win against Arsenal in the capital since September 1973 (D7, L22), highlighting the scale of the task awaiting them on Saturday.

Narrowly outside the Premier League bottom three, Cooper's troops march towards London in dire form, buoyed only by a penalty shootout win against fourth-tier Walsall in midweek EFL Cup action.

With the King Power faithful already rallying against the 44-year-old manager, leaving the comforts of their home was the last thing Leicester needed.

Their last top-flight victory on hostile turf dates back to February 2023, while they've since gone ten Premier League travels without taking three points (D4, L6).

As if that's not worrying enough, Cooper's men have conceded precisely two goals on both league visits to London this term despite facing fellow strugglers Crystal Palace and Fulham.

Prediction

Much better teams than Leicester have slipped on this ground, but winning alone may not be enough to silence Carragher and his like-minded critics.

Arsenal have won back-to-back home encounters against the Foxes by a two-goal margin, and a repeat of those successes could be just what the doctor ordered.

Despite Odegaard's absence, Arteta boasts an intimidating firepower up front, capable of exploring Leicester's defensive vulnerabilities, which may result in another emphatic triumph.