Leicester City

Former Leicester City striker Matty Fryatt believes the Foxes should be targeting a win this weekend in order to put the "negative mindsets and doubters" to bed over the upcoming two-week international break.

Steve Cooper's side are yet to pick up their first Premier League win of the season, after winning the Championship and bouncing straight back up to the top flight last season.

"We would be getting a monkey off our back," Fryatt told the When You're Smiling podcast. "Especially because we've got an international break and some doubters at the moment.

"In a home fixture against Everton, you would expect a little bit more than what we saw. Obviously we got a point but, on paper, you would be hoping for three points. I think the game against Bournemouth will be similar.

"It is certainly a game which, if you're looking at our list of fixtures, you would expect Leicester to pinpoint as one they would hopefully pick up three points in.

"They will be desperate to get a win this weekend - then the negative mindsets and doubters will be put to bed for two weeks.

"For me, the overall performances so far haven't warranted a win. They really need to be up for it. They need to know the importance of the game. They need that confidence to go and play their game. They need to take this game to Bournemouth so they can be on the front foot from the outset."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

And hear from Cooper in a second Bournemouth preview episode

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Leicester manager Steve Cooper has never beaten Bournemouth in five attempts in all competitions.

It is the joint-most he has ever faced an opponent as a manager without ever winning (also five against Manchester United).

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The latest When You're Smiling podcast has landed.

Catch up on Steve Cooper's pre-match news conference and hear from defender Caleb Okoli, as Leicester City prepare for Bournemouth at King Power Stadium on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Is the game a must-win for the winless Foxes?

Former Leicester City striker Matty Fryatt joins BBC Radio Leicester's Jack Rafferty to discuss Cooper's comments.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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The Key Match Incidents panel was unanimous in its backing of referee Samuel Barrott's call not to award a second yellow card to Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori against Leicester City.

The Italian was booked in the 49th minute of the game but escaped further punishment in the 70th minute for a tackle on Foxes loanee Facundo Buonanotte.

The panel wrote: "It's a careless challenge, not reckless. It doesn't stop a promising attack as [Thomas] Partey is right there covering."

The KMI panel, made up of five members, includes three ex-players and managers.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Midfielder Hamza Choudhury has been ruled out for Leicester with a dislocated shoulder.

The 27-year-old suffered the injury in training, with boss Steve Cooper unsure how long he will be sidelined for.

"It’s definitely quite a significant injury to dislocate your shoulder. Fingers crossed it's not as severe as it can be," he said.

"It was an innocuous situation. We're still working out how long he will be out because it's still settling down. Weeks or months, we're not sure yet.

"It was a normal duel, no foul. Unfortunately his shoulder ended up on the wrong side of an awkward position.

"I respect his journey and becoming the player and man he is. He is a popular guy. It's always important to have players who have come through the ranks at any club."

The former England Under-21 international is definitely out of Saturday's visit of Bournemouth, with the Foxes still looking for their first league win of the season.

They are 17th in the table and one of five winless clubs.

Cooper said: "It's the challenge for me, the players and the staff. We want to thrive in this moment. There's nothing better than coming through a difficult time. When you do you are in a much better place.

"It's not always easy to take but there's also an awareness some really important learning takes place.

"That's what I keep saying to the players. What an opportunity we have to get through this little spell, come through the other side and allow us to kick on."

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Leicester City boss Steve Cooper has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Bournemouth (15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Hamza Choudhury has dislocated his shoulder in training. The club are still working out the extent of the injury, but he expects the midfielder to be out for "a little while".

• Meanwhile, Jannik Vestergaard has returned to training after recovering from an ankle problem. A few players - who Cooper did not name - have picked up knocks but he hopes they will be available for this weekend.

• The Foxes "need a result" before the international break, after failing to pick up a win in their first six Premier League games: "That is what we want. We are in a world where results dictate so many things. We really want to get the right result going into the international break."

• He emphasised the "present ambition" at the club, adding that "mentality is key" in their current situation: "In Premier League football, there is always an opportunity. For us now, that opportunity is to get our first win, get some good results and climb up the table."

• Cooper added he is "desperate" for the supporters to see the team "win and play well in the process", but accepted it is his "responsibility" to make that happen.

• He emphasised criticism motivates him after coming under fire from some Leicester fans: "I certainly don't hide away from it. I will always make sure I'm more visible, more vocal and more upfront than maybe when things are going well. I think that is the role of a leader and a manager, so that is what I want to be."

• He sent a message to the supporters that will be at King Power Stadium this weekend: "It's about continuing to get behind the team, as they already have done. Any criticism has come towards me, not the players, and that is how I would prefer it. The atmosphere really pulled us through against Tottenham and Everton, so we need that because I really saw the players respond to it."

• On what he expects from Andoni Iraola's side: "They have dangerous players at the top end of the pitch and a clear way of playing. We are ready for a very energetic team, which is what they are. They are clear in how they play and very dangerous with it."

• On Bournemouth's form last season, after it took them 10 games to get their first league win and they still went on to finish 12th: "Unless you're finishing seventh, eighth or above, everybody goes through a spell of not getting a lot of points. If ours is now, I hope it is coming to an end. We have got to look forward and look positively, with motivation and ambition."

Follow all of Thursday's news conferences

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Former Leicester City winger Matt Piper believes the Foxes are lacking leadership in their defence and it has been something they have "missed for some time".

Speaking on the latest episode of BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast, Piper said: "I've played with players that just shout things and you think 'has he he helped me or helped anyone with what he's saying? No.'

"You get players that just say things at certain times to appear talkative on the pitch, but are they actually leading? Are they giving players advice, support and guidance while they're out there? That's what I think we do lack."

Matt from the US Foxes Podcast added: "It just opens up that Ricardo [Pereira] debate again - if only we had a player that was our defender of the year and experienced.

"You've got to wonder what's going on there - it's crying out [for him]. The defensive issues are so glaring. Something's got to change."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Kate Blakemore
Fan writer

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That James Justin rocket will live long in the memory. A perfectly executed strike that saw us draw level with one of the slickest teams in Europe. I waited for the inevitable late heartbreak and it arrived, bang on time.

Six games to start without a win is certainly relegation form and the dress rehearsal is now over for Steve Cooper. The next four matches against Bournemouth, Southampton, Nottingham Forest and Ipswich are potentially season-defining.

Poor discipline and application have featured in these early games, alongside an arguably overly cautious approach to winnable games and questionable timings of substitutions. For example, injury-time substitutions against Arsenal disrupted our focus and the new players had no time to adjust to the pace of play and danger areas. We know how that ended.

Football is full of fine margins and I do feel a few tweaks and better decision-making both on and off the field could determine how high (or low) we sit in the table.

The Foxes must take it to the Cherries next weekend and Cooper needs to show flexibility between his tactics at home against those away, particularly given the continual conundrum of the midfield.

Over those six games, there have been periods of good play, worthy of winning football matches. If Cooper and the players can produce these over a full 90 minutes, then the next four games will yield positive results.

There is almost an undertone that we are better than Cooper believes we are. Have a little faith, take a few risks with attacking players, especially at home.

October is now or never for Steve Cooper - else it will be curtains for him in the fanbase.

Find more from Kate Blakemore at Leicester Till I Die, external

The latest episode of BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast has landed. Foxes' Goalkeeper Mads Hermansen gives his views on their loss to Arsenal.

Owynn Palmer-Atkin and former Leicester winger Matt Piper debate the latest goings on, with defensive frailties proving a hot topic.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Arsenal and Leicester

Here are some of your comments:

Arsenal fans

John: Arsenal made it difficult for themselves, but in the end, they showed their title credentials.

Stephen: Arsenal really missing Martin Odegaard's chasing, energy and intellect. Thomas Partey just isn’t an intelligent enough player - and reliably will gift the opposition chances in every match.

Chris: A dominant Arsenal display in the first half and at the end. But still there questions as they took their eye off the ball after the break and didn’t take their chances to close it before injury time. A shaky start to the second half. Despite conceding four, Mads Hermansen was a rock who stopped it being an absolute rout and Leicester showed character.

Martin: The Arsenal of latter Wenger, Emery and early Arteta years would have lost that game from 2-0 up. They did well to pile the pressure on Leicester until the goal came. Champions find ways to win when it looks dire, but we can't afford second halves like that against the big teams.

Leicester fans

Max: A poor first half but much better in the second. I feel something strange is going on regarding decisions already. The strange VAR decision against Palace and then here with the seven added minutes! Also, Calafiori not getting a second yellow card. This will sound 'salty' but keep an eye out for poor decisions against Leicester in future games.

James: While Leicester nearly came away with a point they barely deserved, they once again showed that they can be competitive. However, the lack of strength in depth (e.g. Raheem Sterling vs Jordan Ayew, no contest), and poor tactics by the Foxes was their downfall in the end. Steve Cooper is running out of time. Defeat at home by Bournemouth, and that may be that.

Patrick: World class keeping! Five shots on target and two goals and only 25% possession! More possession might have equalled more goals. Plenty to rejoice over everything taken into consideration. However, how did seven minutes of extra time become 13? VAR again!! I can understand if Cooper blows his top again.

Nathan: It's time for Cooper to go - we need someone that is going to play for the win not play just to survive. It was a poor decision signing him in the first place.

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Former Northern Ireland manager Ian Barraclough believes Leicester will "take real good heart" from their performance at Arsenal.

The Foxes' were on course to take a point away from the Emirates before two injury-time goals helped the Gunners to all three points. Speaking to BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast after the game, Barraclough said: "They'll be sore at the moment, it will be hurting for sure because they got themselves back into the game that many would feel they didn't have any right to be involved in.

"Two good goals brought them back into the game and you go into the 90th minute and they had defended every set piece that had been thrown at them.

"To have fought their way back into it, to have been a little bit braver and a bit cleaner with their passing to get themselves higher up the pitch and back into the game - they'll take real good heart from it."

Despite the full time emotions being of disappointment, Barraclough believes there were lots of positives to come from the game: "When the emotions die down from it all, the management and coaching staff will accentuate the positives that have happened.

"For me it's a case of saying listen we've gone toe-to-toe with I think the best in the Premier League this season so far, and we can come out with a lot of confidence."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Arsenal 4-2 Leicester

• Wolves 1-2 Liverpool

The latest episode of BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast has landed.

There is post match analysis of today's game against Arsenal with Ian Barraclough and reaction from the Foxes boss Steve Cooper.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Matthew Howarth
BBC Sport journalist

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Leicester manager Steve Cooper said he would not shy away from criticism after Foxes fans were heard chanting "Cooper, sort it out" and "this is embarrassing" during Tuesday's EFL Cup victory at Walsall.

At half-time on Saturday, it looked like being another damaging afternoon for Cooper and his players, who trailed 2-0 and had offered minimal resistance against a dominant Arsenal side.

The second half was a totally different story.

James Justin equalised just over a minute after the restart before equalising with a stunning volley from Wilfred Ndidi's left-wing cross, his swerving shot striking the inside of the post on its way in.

Goalkeeper Mads Hermansen produced a string if magnificent saves towards the end of the game, denying Leandro Trossard, Kai Havertz, Riccardo Calafiori and second-half Arsenal substitute Ethan Nwaneri.

But something had to give and the Gunners eventually broke Foxes' hearts when Ndidi inadvertently turned in Trossard's close-range effort, with Havertz completing the scoring five minutes later.

Cooper will be proud of his players once the dust settles on this one - but that may take some time.

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Leicester boss Steve Cooper, has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day following today's defeat: "Tough one to take to be fair. Proud of the second half performance particularly. If it's a team that's not together, they can really go under after the first-half but it was great to score as early as we did in the second half and then go to 2-2.

"You know you are going to suffer here at time against a really good time like Arsenal at the Emirates but I felt like we were coping really well. To have that deflection for the third goal is just a bit of where our luck is but then the fourth goal is against the run of play.

"It's another loss and the results always write the narrative but there was so much to be positive about, particularly in the second half and we've got to try and keep going keep capitalising on what is going okay and just improve."

On what was said at half-time: "Just to stick with it to be honest. It was disappointing with the way we concede the goals because they are typical Arsenal goals with the cut-backs, we've done a lot of work trying to deal with that.

"I don't want to make the headlines around referees because I'm trying to take responsibility for a team trying to do better in the Premier League but it's a clear foul on Jamie Vardy for the first goal and the left-back [Riccardo Calafiori] has to get sent off for a second yellow but there's so much more we could say, the whole game knows but I'm not going down that road today."

On James Justin's second goal: "Great goal, straight off one of the moves that we work on in terms of where we want people to get the ball. It's a brilliant finish. Good to see that come off. Just a pity that it didn't mean more in the game."

On Mads Hermansen's saves: "We're really happy with Mads, he's a talented young goalkeeper and he is on the right path. He didn't deserve to concede that third goal with the deflection but it can happen unfortunately. He didn't deserve to concede a goal like that, neither did the rest of the guys.

"You have to stand up, you have to keep believing in what you are doing. These are the demands of the Premier League. We fell on the wrong side today."

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What did you make of Leicester’s display?, external

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

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Seven matches make up Saturday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

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BBC Radio 5 Live commentaries:

• Arsenal v Leicester

• Wolves v Liverpool

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

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."

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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