Leicester: Brendan Rodgers’ options diminish – how he can cope

Although it’s an obvious cliche and many of us want to delve deep to figure out why exactly the Leicester City performance against Arsenal was so bad, it really isn’t too hard.

The injury situation is historically the worse I can remember in thirty years of supporting the club. We’re getting to the stage where youth team players are going to have to be drafted in to cover tiring legs. Currently the team are missing James Justin, James Maddison, Wesley Fofana, Dennis Praet, Ayoze Perez and Wes Morgan and will now have to add Harvey Barnes and Jonny Evans to that list.

For much of this game Leicester City were chasing Arsenal shadows and should be grateful that Mikel Arteta’s side didn’t punish them further with the match over after 53 minutes.

The problem that is facing Brendan Rodgers is, ‘who else is going to the treatment room?’ With several of his starting eleven only just having returned from injury themselves. Basically how many of the Leicester players are running at 70-80% full fitness right now? Jamie Vardy is still struggling to get up to full pace following a recent operation and is in desperate need of a rest.

Youri Tielemans has been ever present this season after struggling to complete 90 minutes on several occasions last season, but he is crying out for a time off before he is added to the treatment table. Ricardo Pereira had a major issue last season and is in danger of aggravating it yet again. Caglar Soyuncu, Daniel Amartey, Timothy Castagne and Wilfred Ndidi are also still recovering from their own injury troubles and having them play for a third time in a week on Wednesday at Burnley is stretching the squad to its limits.

Rotation was desperately needed today but with options low on the bench who is going to step up? Given todays abject display it might have forced the Northern Irishman’s hand as even the normally dependable likes of Tielemans and Ndidi were missing passes & tackles. Pressing Arsenal was all but a distant wish with no gas left in the tank.

Fatigue can be the only reason for a frankly ridiculous handball that Ndidi gifted Arsenal with a penalty. Tired minds and bodies tend to do odd things, and ultimately poor fitness tends to equal poor performances. Surely some players will need to be rested even if that means youngsters are drafted in.