Leicester

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  1. Sutton's predictions: Arsenal v Leicesterpublished at 11:13 28 September

    Chris Sutton and Maximo Park singer Paul Smith

    Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

    For week six, he takes on Maximo Park singer Paul Smith, whose latest album, Stream Of Life, is out on Friday.

    Arsenal host Leicester at 15:00 BST on Saturday.

    Sutton's prediction: 2-0

    Are we going to see Arsenal park the bus again? It was more like a couple of buses than just one in front of their goal against Manchester City.

    There is a lot of attention on Gunners boss Mikel Arteta and his approach, and whether people view his team as too negative - they were also very defensive against Atalanta in the Champions League last week - but it's what happens in the end that counts.

    If this is all part of a long-term plan and Arsenal end up winning the Premier League, then you have to take your hat off to Arteta. In any case, I'm expecting them to be much more attack-minded here.

    There was a bit of negativity towards Leicester boss Steve Cooper from Foxes fans when their side got past Walsall on penalties in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, but they need to be patient with him.

    I always felt it was going to be very difficult for all three promoted clubs this season, and I predicted they would all go down, just like all three did last time.

    Leicester have had great success in the Premier League previously, finishing fifth two seasons running in 2020-21 and 2021-22 after winning it in 2015-2016, but their circumstances are completely different now. Right now their season is all about their struggle to stay up.

    Losing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to Chelsea in the summer was a big blow because he knitted everything in midfield and, as a team, I would say they are a work in progress.

    The problem for Leicester is you don't want to be playing Arsenal when you are a work in progress. This is going to be an extremely tough afternoon for them, and I can't see them getting anything at the Emirates.

    Smith's prediction: 3-0

    Leicester are up against it this season, for sure. Arsenal are going to be dominant and once one goal goes in, another couple will follow.

    Read the full predictions and have your say here

  2. What next for clubs in bottom seven?published at 13:13 27 September

    Premier League table showing positions 14-20

    Former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown has been speaking to the Football News Show about the teams who have struggled to get points on the board so far.

    Everton

    "Sean Dyche understands the pressure. He is comfortable in his surroundings, he’s got broad shoulders but the pressure is starting to mount. The supporters are grumbling, but they need to try and relax.

    "I think the next two home games [against Crystal Palace and Newcastle] are key."

    Leicester City

    "There is rumblings regarding the manager and the style he is going to have to try and play. It is a totally different ball game in the Premier League."

    Wolves

    "What is surprising everyone is how good Wolves were last season compared to their start this term. It was an incredible run from Gary O’Neil. He has lost players [over the summer] and I think he needed a bit more support in the transfer window. We can all see that he will be disappointed.

    "They have a tough game against Liverpool next, so it does not get any easier."

    West Ham

    "Getting beat 5-1 by Liverpool is not a true reflection of them. Early on in the game they had several chances. Even into the second half when they were 2-1 down, there was a couple of good opportunities. They brought on Kudus, Paqueta and Antonio so there were several changes.

    "But what was disappointing, is that they went down to 10 men with Alvarez having the second yellow card and then it was capitulation. That is what the manager did not need.

    "They did not seem to have the gritty style what West Ham have had. Julen Lopetegui wants to be more attractive, more aggressive, at the top of the pitch and that is not coming to light at this moment in time. There is a lot of work to do and the pressure is mounting. West Ham fans wanted the change [of manager] but it is going to take him a little bit of time."

  3. Coady hopes Arsenal test 'raises the bar'published at 13:03 27 September

    Conor Coady of Leicester City warms up prior to the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Walsall and Leicester City at Poundland Bescot StadiumImage source, Getty Images

    Leicester City defender Conor Coady believes the Foxes will have to be "at the top of their game" when they come up against Arsenal and says the players "understand the challenge" ahead of them this season.

    Speaking to BBC Radio Leicester about the Emirates trip, Coady said: "I think it's about refocusing ourselves. I think it's about understanding the challenge ahead.

    "I've played in games before in the Premier League where coming up against opposition of that calibre, sometimes raises the bar and makes you up the concentration in the dressing room.

    "We know that we've got to be at the top of our game, otherwise it is going to be a real tough afternoon for us. So we will make sure that we do that - the experienced boys will talk and we will get around the boys to make sure we are ready."

    Former Leicester City goalkeeping coach Mike Stowell told the When You're Smiling podcast that Steve Cooper's side will have to put on a "real tough performance" to come away with any points.

    "From what I have seen of Leicester this season, they can turn it on and they can put a first half performance in, but you can't be sporadic and just play for 45 minutes in the Premier League," he said.

    "You will get found out, so you have to have a 90 minute performance at some stage.

    "Arsenal are going to come at you, full of confidence. They are knocking around the top of the league, so you've got to go there and be strong from the first minute to the last minute."

    Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

    Leicester's next five games: Arsenal (a), Bournemouth (h), Southampton (a), Nottingham Forest (h), Ipswich (a)
  4. What's with the dark arts?published at 07:58 27 September

    Nedum Onuoha, BBC Sport columnist banner
    Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya sits on the floor awaiting medical treatment Image source, Getty Images

    There has been a lot of conversation this week about "dark arts" in football following the draw between Manchester City and Arsenal on Sunday.

    Realistically, everyone who has watched football for longer than one game has seen things they would perceive as "dark arts"; whether it is a player always going down winning free-kicks to take the sting out of the game, kicking the ball into row Z when there was no multi-ball system or time-wasting on goal-kicks.

    These are things we see all the time but our perception of it is dependent on the context of a game. You always see some version of it somewhere, and you hope your team would be doing the same thing if in the same situation - because why should you do something that would benefit the opposition you are against?

    It is the same as going down a bit more easily to win penalties - some people will say "this guy is a cheat", but then on the other side of their mouth, if it is something that could benefit them, they say "he has tried too hard to stay up, he needed to go down there".

    You can have rulings, Ifab can get involved to change this and that, but there will always be a way to push the rules to their limits.

    What we saw with Arsenal in that game, where David Raya sat down to get some treatment while the teams gathered, we have seen those moments before. It is not just new to Arsenal - other teams do it.

    It is always based on certain moments. You do get more frustrated if it happens against you, but when you need to do it, you encourage people to do it. That is one of the beauties of football - the way you see things is always going to be down to perception, context and just whether you think it is benefiting you or not.

    Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Phil Cartwright