Boost for Leicester City as Ruud van Nistelrooy confirms encouraging news ahead of Arsenal
A Premier League showdown awaits Leicester City against Arsenal on Saturday lunchtime, and Ruud van Nistelrooy was able to supply some encouraging news in his press conference.
Leicester were beaten 4-0 by Everton last time out in the Premier League and then tasted a controversial 2-1 loss to Manchester United in the FA Cup.
It’s now just one win in Van Nistelrooy’s previous nine league games, and chances of Leicester ending that run against Arsenal look incredibly slim.
Although Arsenal are without four key players, including Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, they’re still hot on the heels of Liverpool in the title race and thrashed Manchester City 5-1 last time out.
Leicester haven’t beaten Arsenal since October 2020, having lost their last six meetings against Mikel Arteta’s men, but Van Nistelrooy did have some positive news to reveal ahead of the clash.
Leicester City have no fresh injury concerns ahead of Arsenal
In the loss to Man United on Friday, the Foxes were without three of their first-team stars, including Jamie Vardy, Jannik Vestergaard and Victor Kristiansen.
Thankfully, Van Nistelrooy confirmed the Leicester trio had ‘light injuries’ and weren’t risked for the match as a precaution.
It was a big blow losing them players for the clash but the Leicester manager has now revealed he has no fresh injury concerns for this weekend.
He expects his key first-team stars to be involved against Arsenal, with Vardy and Kristiansen expected to return to the starting lineup, although the inclusion of Vestergaard is far from clear-cut.
Jamie Vardy’s return vs Arsenal is game-changing
Patson Daka led the line in place of the veteran striker against Man United. But it would be a huge surprise if Vardy wasn’t reinstated on Saturday.
Although the 38-year-old has found the net just once in his last eight league games, Vardy has scored more goals against Arsenal than any other club (11) – joint with Watford.
Vardy famously rejected a transfer to Arsenal in 2016 as his head and heart told him to remain at the King Power Stadium.
The clinical centre-forward has since become a Leicester City legend, firing the Foxes to a league title, an FA Cup and into Europe.
Van Nistelrooy will hope his striker can come back to haunt the Gunners once more this weekend and deliver an unlikely three points.
Leicester City will go head-to-head with Arsenal in a Premier League meeting in Saturday’s early kick-off.
The Foxes are on a nightmare run in the top flight, which was briefly alleviated by a win over Tottenham Hotspur.
However, Leicester City came crashing back down to earth in their last Premier League encounter when they were smashed by Everton.
A meeting with Manchester United then awaited in the FA Cup last weekend and though the Foxes fared better, they were dealt a heartbreaking 2-1 loss thanks to an offside goal from former player, Harry Maguire.
Another of the traditional top six awaits on Saturday, with Leicester hosting Arsenal in a 12:30pm kick-off.
