Arsenal vs. Leicester City Preview
Where: Emirates Stadium, London
When: Friday, August 11, 2017, 2:45 PM ET
Line: Arsenal -235 vs. Leicester City +530, tie +220; total 3.0 – view all 2017 English Premier League lines
TV Broadcast: NBCSN
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Betting on the Arsenal (-235)
Perhaps the biggest news for Arsenal with regards to this game is the inability of Alexis Sanchez to get in the game. The Chilean has been declared out for this showdown because of an abdominal strain. Note also that he’s expected to miss next week’s contest against Stoke, too. Even without Sanchez, though, Arsenal is still the heavy favorites against Leicester City.
Sanchez’s absence should open up more opportunities for the club’s key summer acquisition in striker Alexandre Lacazette, who comes over to London to lend his scoring prowess to Arsenal. Last season, Lacazette found the back of the net 37 times in 45 games while playing for Lyon.
It’s also comforting for Wenger to hear that star midfielder Mesut Ozil has told the media he’s healthy enough to play in the league opener after sitting out the match against Chelsea in the Community Shield, which ended with Arsenal winning via a penalty shootout, 4-1. Still, Ozil’s availability remains up in the air along with Aaron Ramsey, who is also doubtful to play.
Betting on the Leicester City (+530)
After winning it all in 2015-16 season, the Foxes went sliding straight to relegation the following campaign. Now they get a shot at returning to decent form, beginning with a key matchup with the Gunners, whom Leicester City hasn’t beaten in an EPL match since 1983.
Leicester City, which is +20,000 to snare the league title this season, should look better in this contest than what most people expect them to be if Ozil and Ramsey ultimately fail to suit up for Arsenal. Having said that, the Foxes have personnel availability issues of their own with midfielder Danny Drinkwater declared out for this contest due to a thigh injury.
In addition, Leicester City will also miss the playmaking of newcomer Vicente Iborra (groin strain), who recently signed a four-year £15-million deal with the club. This leaves manager Craig Shakespeare putting more pressure on the pair of Jamie Vardy and another fresh face in Kelechi Iheanacho. The duo will be helped by midfielder Riyad Mahrez, who will try to look as professional as he could amidst his well-known intentions of leaving the club once the season ends. Vardy paces the team last season with 13 goals, while Mahrez was third with six.
Writer’s Prediction
Arsenal (-235) wins 2-1.
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