Sunday, December 22, 2024

Sutton’s predictions: Arsenal v Leicester

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[BBC]

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

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