Foxes of Leicester
Fansided

Leicester City: Claudio Ranieri brimming with confidence ahead of Arsenal clash

By Thomas Atzenhoffer

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 18: Leicester City's manager Claudio Ranieri during the Leicester City press conference at King Power Stadium on August 18 , 2016 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 18: Leicester City's manager Claudio Ranieri during the Leicester City press conference at King Power Stadium on August 18 , 2016 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images) /
twitterredditfacebook

Leicester City were felled twice by Arsenal last season but Foxes manager Claudio Ranieri has been all smiles and confidence in his pre-match comments.

Arsenal finished second to 2015-16 English Premier League champions Leicester City last season, and were the only side to do the double over the Foxes.

However, despite last season’s record and last weekends wake up call against Hull City, Ranieri believes his side are well prepared for the Gunners on Saturday.

Speaking to the press ahead of the match as quoted by Leicester City’s official site, the veteran manager paid tribute to his opponents and manager Arsene Wenger:

"“We lost twice [to Arsenal last season] and we know it is a very good team with a good manager, but we are ready and we will try to do our best.We have to try and find the right solution to beat them.”"

That solution is going to center greatly around how summer addition Ahmed Musa and Jamie Vardy have built their partnership and understanding up during training this week.

HULL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 13: Jamie Vardy of Leicester City and Claudio Ranieri, Manager of Leicester City speak on the side line during the Premier League match between Hull City and Leicester City at KCOM Stadium on August 13, 2016 in Hull, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
HULL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 13: Jamie Vardy of Leicester City and Claudio Ranieri, Manager of Leicester City speak on the side line during the Premier League match between Hull City and Leicester City at KCOM Stadium on August 13, 2016 in Hull, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /

Both were on a different page last weekend and their pace can be a great advantage against the Gunners if they get things right.

Equally the loss of N’Golo Kante exposed the lack of understanding of Andy King and Danny Drinkwater together in midfield and link up play with the attack was non-existent.

Related Story: Leicester v Arsenal Preview and Projected Lineups

Ranieri called for confidence and poise against Arsenal as he commented on the clubs overall performance in their loss against Liverpool last weekend:

"“I watched Arsenal’s match. They played so well the first half.In the second half they have something strange and Liverpool scored three times, but after they came back it was a very good match.For this reason, when you play against big teams like Arsenal, you have to be very, very confident.”"

Confidence for Leicester will hopefully see them take advantage of any lapse in pressure and concentration that Arsenal display and see stars Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy and Ahmed Musa make the Gunners pay.

The return of Robert Huth to the defense should see the back five back to normal and help the attack start to get things right once again.

Home/Leicester City News