How does Rodgers find a system with wingers for Leicester?

It was quite apparent the initial starting XI from Rodgers was designed with central penetrations in mind, almost entirely through passes. With only a single player in width, one of which was Luke Thomas — a safer, more regressive passer versus a robust, ball-carrying Ricardo Pereira, who was injured for the game, the Foxes were limited in how dribbling dependant they could be in possession.

The focal point of the 3-4-1-2 formation is with the number 10, ordinarily James Maddison, whose profile is that of a line-breaking passer. His application was to receive between Arsenal’s lines (inside of their block) and circulate into the two forwards — Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho. Infrequently, he’d also have creativity in width, when LCFC were able to push their wing-backs forward and utilise them in the final third.

As a general rule, Arsenal’s defensive-midfield double pivot, Thomas Partey and Albert Sambi Lokonga, were tasked with removing this option in the centre whilst also being in a numerical advantage in possession — forcing them to receive in early stages of their play to get through Leicester City’s press. Both of them did this job adequately and the lack of movement from Maddison and other Foxes midfielders/forwards made their day of screening him as an option a lot easier.