Good evening and welcome to our live-text coverage of Leicester vs Arsenal. Once upon a time fourth place was considered the reserve of the Gunners but their opponents Leicester have the honour of holding the final Champions League spot. One place back but a whole six points behind are Arsenal, whose season is yet to really get going, overshadowed by Xhaka dramas, daylight robbery and many points lost. Three points on offer as always. Things kick off at 17:30 but stay with us for all the build-up and hype.
Premier League / Matchday 12
King Power Stadium / 09.11.2019
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- J. Vardy(68')
- J. Maddison(75')
Live
Live Updates
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Updated 09/11/2019 at 19:20 GMT
VARDY IN THE MOOD
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Image credit: Getty Images
16'
WHAT A MISS!
Arsenal play through the Leicester press and it's a lovely flowing move. Left to right and Ozil surges into the Foxes box. He squares for Aubameyang whose heavy tocuh falls for Lacazette six yards out.
The goal is gaping and his only obstacle is a sliding Evans, and somehow - somehow - the ball flies wide.
Glorious chance.
13'
PENALTY SHOUT!
VAR!? What's this? What's happened?
Chilwell swings a free-kick towards the backpost and Soyuncu is pulled back by Guendouzi.
It looks like a stonewall penalty on the replays and there VAR ref has a quick look but play goes on.
Looked a pen to me! Soyuncu livid.
11'
Tielemans has the ball at his feet, driving forward and Leicester are three on two!
Vardy's eyes light up and there's so much space to run into but Tielemans over hits the through ball and Leno gets there first.
9'
Aubameyang down the right now though squares for Ozil who leaves it well for Lacazette just for Evans to nip in and clear. Nervy moment for the Foxes who need to focus at the back.
A corner to the hosts at the other end is straight into Leno's arms.
7'
Ozil with a real chance today to convince his manager he should start each week. Hell want to link up with goalscorer at large Aubameyang, but the Gunners' new captain has hardly had a touch.
First chance! Maddison whips a ball into Vardy who connects in the box but on the turn he can't get much on it and Leno saves comfortably.
5'
Leicester playing with plenty of width, hugging the touchlines. Maddison drifting this way and that.
Arsenal doing well to keep their shape in these early stages.
3'
Leicester passing it around the back nicely before Evans attempts an extraordinarily ambitious ball over the top. Vardy thinks he's won a corner but the referee disagrees.
Foxes oozing confidence.
1st Half
1'
KICK-OFF!
Leicester's Jamie Vardy gets us underway! GO!
17:25
TEAM NEWS REMINDER
Your five minute warning. And he's your team news reminder!
Leicester: Schmeichel, Pereira, Soyuncu, Evans, Chilwell, Ndidi, Tielemans, Barnes, Perez, Maddison, Vardy.
Subs: Ward, Justin, Morgan, Gray, Albrighton, Choudhury, Praet.
Arsenal: Leno, Bellerin, Chambers, Luiz, Holding, Kolasinac, Guendouzi, Torreira, Ozil, Lacazette, Aubameyang.
Subs: Martinez, Tierney, Sokratis, Pepe, Willock, Martinelli, Saka.
The referee at the King Power Stadium is Chris Kavanagh.
17:20
SOAKING WET AT THE KING POWER
It's raining. Big time.
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Image credit: Getty Images
17:16
PRE-MATCH EMERY
"We want to use our players, capacity, set up. Thinking how we can impose.
"We need to achieve confidence. We can also show our wishes to win and show our stronger activity on the pitch defensively and offensively. The players are very excited for that."
Arsenal start with three at the back today!
17:15
PRE-MATCH RODGERS
"There's no easy game in the Premier League no matter what form they are in. We're going to have to be very concentrated, defend well as a team and show our quality when they have the ball.
"We're under no illusions it's a tough game for us."
17:10
STATS STATS STATS
- Leicester City have won their last two Premier League home games against Arsenal – they’ve never beaten the Gunners in three consecutive home top-flight matches.
- Arsenal have lost two of their last three league games against Leicester (W1) – more than they had in their previous 30 against the Foxes (W20 D9 L1).
- Leicester have won eight of their last 11 home Premier League games (W8 D2 L1), including their last four in a row; the Foxes have only won five in a row once previously, doing so in May 2017 under Craig Shakespeare.
17:03
IS XHAKA GONE FOR GOOD?
Stripped of the captaincy, fans furious, and Emery has admitted that the Switzerland international may not play for Arsenal again, revealing that conversations have taken place over whether he should be sold in January.
"I spoke with him on Tuesday about how he's feeling now and how he is in his mind. He's working well, he's training well, but he said to me that he's not feeling good enough at the moment to play. We are going to wait. It's my decision, 100 per cent. But first I need to speak to him because he's a person, our player and I want to know how he is feeling now. And then I decide."
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Image credit: Getty Images
16:56
LAST TIME OUT
A quick reminder of what happened to both sides during last week's Premier League outings.
Arsenal looked on course to edge a win over Wolves but for Raul Jiminez's late winner. Leicester followed up their 9-0 demolition of Southampton with a more modest 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace.
The Foxes are seeking a fourth win in a row, the Gunners looking for their first win in four.
16:46
PRESSURE STATS
A few somewhat unflattering stats to highlight just why Emery is under pressure.
- If Arsenal lose this evening, it will be the Gunners' worst start to a season since 1982-83.
- In the last 18 Premier League games, Arsenal have scored 24 and conceded 27.
- Arsenal have taken 24 points from their last 18 Premier League games.
But...
- Mesut Özil has created more chances for team-mates in the Premier League (49) than any other Arsenal player under Unai Emery.
And he starts this evening...
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16:38
EMERY'S LAST LEGS?
Plenty of chat over whether today could spell the end for Emery should the Gunners fail to get a result. A win for the Foxes would leave Arsenal nine points adrift of fourth place, with little improvement to show for heavy investment in the summer and uninspiring football. Especially when it comes to holding on to leads!
16:31
BELLERIN'S BACK
Ozil starts and as we were told, there's no space for Xhaka in the squad.
16:30
LEICESTER NAME UNCHANGED SIDE