Arsenal Football Club is set to return to competitive action following a break for training in Dubai, amidst pressing concerns about their goal-scoring capabilities as they aim to maintain a viable challenge in the title race. While the Gunners were away, they observed title competitors Liverpool experience setbacks in the FA Cup and in their league match against Everton, positioning Arsenal just seven points behind the leaders with 14 matches remaining.
However, the team has faced a significant blow with the news that Gabriel Martinelli is anticipated to be out for an extended period, coupled with Kai Havertz, who has now been ruled out for the entire season due to a severe hamstring injury. This leaves manager Mikel Arteta with just three first-team forwards to select from for their upcoming match against Leicester: Leandro Trossard, Chelsea loanee Raheem Sterling, and 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri.
Despite facing a Leicester team struggling with only three points this season, questions linger regarding Arsenal’s offensive threats, especially with Martinelli and Bukayo Saka expected to be sidelined until next month.
The upcoming match will take place on Saturday, February 15th, at 7:30 a.m. ET at the King Power Stadium in Leicester. Broadcast coverage will be available on USA and live streaming on fuboTV.
Leicester City will welcome back key players Jamie Vardy, Jannik Vestergaard, and Victor Kristiansen, all of whom missed their last outing due to injury. Vardy, in particular, has a noteworthy history against Arsenal, having scored 11 goals against them, although he hasn’t found the net in encounters with the Gunners since October 2020.
For Arsenal, there is a slight silver lining on the defensive front as Ben White is back in training and could potentially add to their lineup. With the Gunners facing difficult odds, predictions suggest a closely contested match, yet many anticipate that Arsenal could edge out a 2-0 victory over Leicester.
As Arsenal navigates these challenges, the resolve of the remaining squad members will be tested, but the team can draw on its previous experiences and unity to regain momentum moving forward.