The green ticks are finally arriving for Brendan Rodgers and Leicester after a challenging start to the 2021-22 campaign, although they became the latest side who were forced to do it the hard way at the Brentford Community Stadium last weekend.
Youri Tielemans and James Maddison struck either side of Zanka’s leveller to make it back-to-back wins for the Foxes in the Premier League, while a four-goal showing from Patson Daka helped them see off Spartak Moscow in the Europa League earlier this month.
Leicester’s fourth win on the bounce in all competitions came in Wednesday’s EFL Cup contest with Brighton & Hove Albion – although they had to rely on their penalty prowess to progress after a frustrating 2-2 draw on home soil – but Rodgers’s side are finally living up to expectations.
Now unbeaten in four Premier League games – taking eight points from a possible 12 in that hot streak – Leicester find themselves ninth in the table after nine matches, above this weekend’s visitors Arsenal albeit only on goal difference.
The Foxes have also scored at least two goals per game during their four-match unbeaten league run, but with Rodgers’s side also failing to keep a clean sheet in the league since the opening day of the season, Arsenal’s attackers will endeavour to take advantage.
Producing perhaps the best 45 minutes of football that we have seen from them this term – barring the North London derby flurry – Arsenal found a new cutting edge against Villa to soar into a first-half two-goal lead thanks to Thomas Partey and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s goals.
Emile Smith Rowe’s deflected effort would seemingly put the tie to bed before Jacob Ramsey’s stunner gave Villa a small sense of hope, but Arsenal held out to respond in the perfect way after only just rescuing a point against Crystal Palace.
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The Gunners’ route to the EFL Cup quarter-finals was more straightforward than that of Leicester’s, with super sub Calum Chambers and former Whites loanee Eddie Nketiah both netting in the second 45 minutes to chalk up Arsenal’s sixth win in eight across all tournaments.
Arteta’s side navigated the month of September unbeaten in the top flight and will aim to repeat that trick in August, as a tally of 14 points taken from the last 18 on offer has seen them rise to 10th in the rankings, but they can only boast one goal away from home all season.
However, Arsenal have emerged victorious from their last two trips to the King Power – winning 3-1 in this Premier League fixture last term – but Leicester have claimed four top-flight wins of their own against the Gunners since 2018.
