Arsenal 4-2 Leicester: 3 Things we learned

Leicester City players’ desire not lacking, but is lacking in coaching & tactics

I feel for Rodgers, having to cope with the injuries he has, the success he has achieved should not be forgotten with an FA Cup in the cabinet forever. But it seems this season all his eggs were in one basket and with the absence of Ricardo Pereira, he feels he has had to abandon his desire and entire pre-season to play four at the back. This seems a bit strange as Timothy Castagne is an excellent right-back that should easily be able to slot into a strong back four alongside Evans, Fofana and James Justin.

It seems that the absence of Harvey Barnes might be driving this tactical shift more, but that was only one left winger, who was supposed to be playing on the right-hand side? Ayoze Perez has played in that area before with decent results, particularly in the 2019/2020 season. Could Dennis Praet be accommodated out wide, or the pacy Patson Daka?

Additionally, we have seemingly isolated Jamie Vardy who has been invisible for much of the first two games. Kelechi Iheanacho – the club’s top scorer in 2020-2021 – came off the bench in this game to great effect, supporting Patson Daka up top, picking up pockets of space and brilliantly setting up James Maddison with a reverse pass before that the Leicester No.10 fired through Aaron Ramsdale’s legs.

But these tactical changes seem too late when the game is moving out of reach. Why not notice it’s not working early on and make those changes quicker? Once again games just seem to pass Brendan by. It can’t keep continuing like this through the season and Brendan can’t persevere with a plan B for 6 months whilst he waits for Ricardo Pereira to return. He has to show desire in his own plans and players and their abilities and act quicker when it isn’t working, otherwise it won’t be his decision to make.

He defensively went back at Owynn Palmer-Atkin on BBC Radio Leicester who suggested the desire of the players might be lacking. If he could show that same passion when in the dugout we might start seeing a turnaround because at the moment this isn’t good enough.