English Soccer Set for Another Fan Protest at Arsenal

While Arsenal and Manchester City, third and fourth respectively, are familiar with the home stretch of a title chase, once described by former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson as “squeaky bum time”, Leicester and Tottenham are entering unfamiliar territory.

Chelsea fan Jordan, 23, from Stanford-le-Hope, said: “I’d never been into betting in my life, but I thought 2,000/1 for them to beat Sunderland must’ve been a mistake”. “Arsenal – a big pressure, because Arsène [Wenger] spends a lot of money every year”, Ranieri said.

The firefighter, based at Plaistow, added: “What surprised me was the bookie only let us put a fiver each on”.

“It’s true they’re very quick in transition”.

“I wouldn’t like to use that as an excuse”, Wenger said. Everything has been very, very fast.

“He has been here one year, we bought him in January”.

Man City have the best squad, but have some big injury concerns, including team captain and leader, Vincent Kompany, who looks to set to return against Spurs this weekend.

But as they face Man City on Sunday, it’s their defence that deserves plaudits with the meanest defence in the league with just 19 conceded in 25 games.

Wenger paid tribute to the East Midlands club but hinted pressure might begin to take its toll.

Leicester spent most of the past decade outside the Premier League, while Tottenham’s target is usually a top-four finish, something they have achieved only twice since 1992.

“And that’s where the nerves come in a little bit”. I know there are so many points to win. – Leicester City have named an unchanged starting XI in their last five Premier League games – the last team to name the same starting XI in six successive PL matches was Arsenal in May 2015.

Vardy said: “We’re not doing that”. “But at home you have to express your strengths and our strength is to have the ball”.

“It is true we get more television income, that is down to the audience and success but you know as well that it is down to the pressure of the market to pay for the players with a higher price – and our expenses will come up straight away to increase their wages”.

“When the other teams have to play we go to the sea, do some swimming and take some sunshine”.

“I believe they are still in a position where they think they have nothing to lose”.

Arsene Wenger: “Leicester are a strong side but we are also a strong side”.

Wenger also admits he has defensive problems of an unusual kind because of a language breakdown.

Faced with the threat of Jamie Vardy’s searing pace, Wenger may persevere with the centre-back pairing of Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel, rather than recall the ponderous Per Mertesacker.