For the moment it is peaceful at Arsenal
FRAGILE TRUCE: LACAZETTE HAS MOLLIFIED FANS FOR NOW
Both Gunners and Leicester have injury problems for opener.
Arsene Wenger brokered a fragile truce with Arsenal’s dissenting fans by winning the FA Cup, but has little margin for error ahead of tonight’s Premier League opener against Leicester City.
Last season was by far the most difficult of Wenger’s 21-year tenure as manager, with Arsenal’s on-pitch travails exposing him to furious protests from sections of the club’s support.
Having ended months of speculation by signing a new two-year contract, he is looking forwards and says that if the team put on a united front, the fans will fall into line behind them.
“A lot (of the trouble) was created by my own situation. Maybe I made a mistake,” Wenger said after Arsenal beat Chelsea on penalties in last weekend’s Community Shield.
“Overall I believe that it’s down to us. The trend has always come from the team.”
Yet there is uncertainty surrounding several players.
Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jack Wilshere are among the players whose contracts expire at the end of the season.
Sanchez in particular has been the subject of intense speculation about his future amid reported interest from Manchester City and Paris Saint Germain.
The Chilean missed pre-season after being granted extra time off following the Confederations Cup and has been ruled out of tonight’s game due to an abdominal strain.
As well as the silverware, Arsenal’s fans have also had a major signing to celebrate after Wenger broke the club’s transfer record to sign prolific French striker Alexandre Lacazette from Lyon.
The 26-year-old set Arsenal back an initial fee of £46.5 million.
Oezil is a doubt tonight, however, along with Aaron Ramsey, Per Mertesacker and Shkodran Mustafi, while Laurent Koscielny is suspended. Gabriel and Santi Cazorla are definitely out.
After going into last season as defending champions, only for a close shave with relegation to cost manager Claudio Ranieri his job, Leicester are targeting stability under Craig Shakespeare.
They have spent over £50 million, strengthening each squad department with moves for goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic, centre-back Harry Maguire, midfielder Vicente Iborra and striker Kelechi Iheanacho.
Spaniard Iborra has been ruled out of the trip to the Emirates Stadium with a groin strain and joins centreback Robert Huth and midfielder Danny Drinkwater on the sidelines. –