Wenger opening gambit fraught with danger
That Wenger is not going into the new campaign with the fans still at his throat owes much to Arsenal’s strong finish to last season.
After Wenger belatedly adopted a 3-4-2-1 formation – a tactical trend sparked by champions Chelsea – Arsenal won seven of their last eight league games and stunned Chelsea 2-1 in the FA Cup final.
They defeated Chelsea again when the teams renewed acquaintances at Wembley in last Sunday’s Community Shield, winning a penalty shootout 4-1 after a 1-1 draw.
As well as the silverware, Arsenal’s supporters 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 (R808million) and is expected to lead the line, flanked by Sanchez and Ozil.
Ozil is a doubt against Leicester, however, along with Aaron Ramsey, Per Mertesacker and Shkodran Mustafi, while Laurent Koscielny is suspended. Gabriel and Santi Cazorla are definitely out.
For the first time since 1997, Arsenal are going into a season without Champions League football and Wenger has pledged to rest players in the Europa League.
He has said he intends “to focus completely on the Premier League”, but if such an approach fails to yield a title challenge, he can expect the protests to ramp up quickly.
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. — AFP