Opposition View: Arsenal
- Arsène Wenger looks ahead to Leicester City's trip to Arsenal on Friday
- The Gunners manager says Alexis Sánchez will miss the clash with a strain
- London Evening Standard sports writer James Benge also assesses Arsenal's strengths
- Benge believes Jamie Vardy will be a key asset for the Foxes in the capital
The Frenchman has an enviable record against City over his 21-year spell with the north London club and remains hopeful of another victory this week despite injury problems.
Midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Özil, as well as defender Per Mertesacker, are also doubts, while centre back Laurent Koscielny is suspended.
“[Sánchez] had a little abdominal strain that he caught on Sunday morning in training, before he came to Wembley,” explained Wenger.
“He had a scan two days ago and he’s out for a while - we don’t know if it is two weeks or one more week, but he will not be available. We think he will not play at Stoke.
“For us, Alexis Sánchez is a loss, of course,” he added.
“But we have all the other players prepared in pre-season and they are all ready. It can happen in pre-season and anyway, I don’t think I would have included him on Friday night.
"I don’t think I would have started him.
Arsenal 1-0 Leicester City
Relive the action from the Foxes match against Arsenal in the Premier League.
“He is focused. Of course when you have treatment on a medical bench, it’s not easy.”
Meanwhile, James Benge, sports writer for the London Evening Standard, has provided an assessment of Arsenal’s title credentials ahead of Friday’s curtain-raiser.
“Their expectations for this season are hard to gauge,” he told LCFC Radio this week.
“At the very minimum it is to qualify for the UEFA Champions League after missing out last season. As ever, Wenger will be saying that it is about the title, which they haven’t won since 2004.
“The danger man that could really cause problems for Leicester is Alexandre Lacazette, who will be making his debut after signing from Lyon this summer.
“He is a really pacey player, he could do a lot of damage. Especially with Arsenal missing Sánchez.”
Looking at City’s attacking potency, however, Benge highlighted one player in particular as a key threat who Arsenal should be wary of.
“In terms of Leicester’s biggest threat, Arsenal fans will remember the game on Valentine’s Day in 2016.
“What was apparent then is just how dangerous Jamie Vardy can be on the break. If he can find that pace and drive, he is the sort of striker Arsenal always fear.”