Arsenal hope to stop Leicester juggernaut

After Manchester City’s failure, this weekend it is Arsenal’s turn to try to stop the Leicester City juggernaut from running away with things at the top of the Premier League.
Victory for Arsene Wenger’s side tomorrow would cut the gap at the top to just two points and the Frenchman knows that if they are to clinch the league title, this is a match they need to win.
The Gunners returned to winning ways by beating Bournemouth after four league games without a win and the importance of this match was enhanced by Leicester’s stunning 3-1 victory at Manchester City.
“Beating Bournemouth is very good for the future as we now have a very big game at home against Leicester who are now the favourites for the Premier League,” Wenger told the Arsenal website.
“A win can maybe prepare you in a better condition for the next game.  We (will have had) a week to prepare for that and I have to think about it. Leicester is a strong side but we are also a strong side.  At home with our fans and support, we can do it.”
Leicester continue to confound critics and defy those who keep expecting the wheels to fall off their unlikely title bid.
Having escaped relegation last season in the most dramatic manner, Leicester’s performances have been little short of remarkable.
But though they now admit they are in the title race, striker Leonardo Ulloa says they are not getting carried away.
“We must try to play the same, with the same intensity and spirit, and after we wait to see what happens at the end of the season,” said Ulloa, who has been outshone this season by the performances of striker Jamie Vardy.  
“It is part of our spirit. The manager says we must fight for every ball. The result is the second thing. The first thing is to fight and to work for the team.  
“But we don’t think about the title, just about the next game. We take it step by step and at the end of the season we will know what happens. It will be another tough game against Arsenal. When we play together we are very good and that is the secret, we all play for each other. We are a team.”
Manchester City, meanwhile, will look to rebound when they host Tottenham, a side who sit second, one point ahead of themselves. Tottenham have not won at City since 2010 but the home side could be without playmaker David Silva, who suffered a recurrence of his ankle injury last weekend.
“I think it will be difficult for him to recover soon,” manager Manuel Pellegrini said. “We will see before the weekend.
“In football, things change from one week to another. We’re not in our best moment - we have just 14 players fit and we’re playing a lot of games.”
For the first time this season, Leicester are the bookmakers’ favourites but Pellegrini, who will stand down in the summer, believes there is still time.
“If Leicester continue playing the way they are, of course they are favourites,” he said. “There are 13 games more so it’s difficult to make a prediction on the future.”
At the other end of the table, bottom side Aston Villa, now just four points adrift but eight points from safety, take on Liverpool at Villa Park.
Second-bottom Sunderland take on fifth-placed Manchester United while third-bottom Norwich host West Ham.
Newcastle, just one place above the relegation zone, travel to champions Chelsea, who, after a terrible first half of the season, are now unbeaten in 11 games.
Bournemouth play Stoke, Crystal Palace are at home to Watford and Everton play West Brom, while Swansea meet Southampton in the weekend’s other match.
Tomorrow's Fixtures
15:45: Sunderland vs Manchester United
18:00: AFC Bournemouth vs Stoke City
18:00: Crystal Palace vs Watford
18:00: Everton vs West Bromwich Albion
18:00: Norwich City vs West Ham United
18:00: Swansea City vs Southampton
20:30: Chelsea vs Newcastle United
(All timings Qatar time)