On September 28th, Arsenal will face Leicester in the 6th round of the Premier League (PL). Arsenal, the Gunners, are overwhelming favorites heading into this encounter. In the 2022/23 season, Arsenal and Leicester met twice, with Arsenal winning both games. In fact, the London club has a dominant streak against the Foxes, having won their last five consecutive matches.
Arsenal
Arsenal has had a mixed bag of results lately, drawing two of their most challenging recent fixtures, but they will likely feel dissatisfied given how those games unfolded. Currently sitting 4th in the Premier League standings with 11 points, Arsenal is just two points behind the league leaders. A win is crucial if they want to stay in the title race, especially against a newly promoted Leicester side.
In their last two matches, Arsenal secured a 2-2 draw away against Manchester City, followed by a dominant 5-1 victory over Bolton in the EFL Cup. The team has shown resilience, but now they need to convert that into a win to solidify their position in the league.
Leicester
Leicester, on the other hand, is still searching for their first win of the season, relying on draws to accumulate points. The Foxes are currently 15th in the standings with just three points. Their form has been disappointing, and climbing up the table seems difficult at the moment. Facing Arsenal away from home will be a massive challenge for them, and avoiding a loss would be considered a huge success.
Recently, Leicester managed a penalty shootout win over Walsall (1-0) in the EFL Cup but played to a 1-1 draw at home against Everton in the league. Their struggle to secure wins puts them at a distinct disadvantage against a well-oiled Arsenal machine.
Player to Watch: Thomas Partey
The experienced Ghanaian midfielder is expected to return to Arsenal’s starting lineup after being rested in the midweek EFL Cup match against Bolton. Manager Mikel Arteta will be keeping a close eye on Partey’s fitness, as the midfielder has struggled with injuries since joining the club.
Despite these concerns, Thomas Partey has been a mainstay in Arsenal’s Premier League campaign this season, playing all 450 minutes and even scoring a crucial goal against Aston Villa. Facing a weakened Leicester side provides him with a good opportunity to improve his stats further.
Match Prediction: Arsenal vs Leicester
Bookmakers heavily favor Arsenal to pick up all three points in this match, as it’s the kind of game they must win if they aspire to challenge for the Premier League title this season. The odds for an Arsenal victory are set by 1xBet at 1.202, reflecting their status as clear favorites.
However, an interesting betting option is on the total goals in the match. Arsenal has been involved in six consecutive matches with fewer than 2.5 goals, except for the recent 2-2 draw against Manchester City. Leicester, on the other hand, has conceded more than two goals in only one of their last ten matches. Betting on under 2.5 goals in this game could be a solid pick given these trends.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Leicester
Arsenal’s strong form, especially at home, coupled with Leicester’s struggles, suggests that the Gunners will secure a comfortable victory. While Leicester may put up a fight, Arsenal’s depth, experience, and superior quality should see them through to a crucial three points.
