Claudio Ranieri dismissed suggestions Leicester are title favourites after they beat Manchester City on Saturday.

The Foxes' 3-1 win at Etihad Stadium leaves them five points clear of Tottenham, who leapfrogged Manchester City into second place.

Leicester's win prompted bookmakers to cut their title odds, with many making them favourites.

"I don't believe them," said boss Ranieri. "They said I was first to be sacked! But I hope they are right."

The Italian was referring to the reaction to his appointment as Leicester boss in the summer, with bookmakers and pundits giving him little chance of succeeding in his role at the King Power Stadium.

'Fans must continue to dream'

Match Officials
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Assistants: Michael Mullarkey and Steve Child
4th Official: Roger East
Reverse Fixture: Leicester City 2 - 5 Arsenal
This Match, Last Year: Arsenal 2 - 1 Leicester City
All-Time in All Competitions: 62 Arsenal wins, 28 Leicester wins, 44 draws
Arsenal's League Form: W-D-D-L-D-W
Leicester City's League Form: D-W-D-W-W-W

Anyway, there will be 12 matches remaining in the Premier League season when this weekend is over and Arsenal could find themselves anywhere between two and eight points back of Leicester City. I guess that's why they call these six-pointers, since that's exactly why they call these six-pointers.

Since Arsenal still have to play away fixtures against Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur (not to mention West Ham and Everton, which aren't exactly easy, either) it's really hard to see them coming back from an eight-point deficit. But a two-point gap with 36 points still on the table? That's not bad at all.

It's hard to say any match in the middle of February is must-win, but this is probably as close as it gets.

Arsenal Squad News

Out: Rosicky (thigh,) Cazorla (knee,) Wilshere (ankle,) Welbeck (match fitness)

There are no changes to the available squad from last week to this week; Tomas Rosicky remains out with his new injury, Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla are both back running, so it's a question of weeks and not months for them, and Danny Welbeck is not yet match fit but could be a possibility for Hull in the FA Cup next week.

That means the real questions lie in player selection. Per Mertesacker has been dropped since his red card against Chelsea. Even though he is the most experienced option at center back, his lack of speed would be suicidal against Leicester's counterattack. If Arsenal intend to win this game, Gabriel has to retain his place.

In the center of midfield, I certainly hope Francis Coquelin is ready to return to the XI, with Mathieu Flamini, he of the unnecessary lunging slide, dropping to the bench.

The other question would be on the right wing, where I'm guessing Theo Walcott will start, though it could also be Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Joel Campbell. Theo just seems the most likely choice to me, even if he frustrates me to no end.

Predicted XI: Cech, Bellerin, Koscielny, Gabriel, Monreal, Coquelin, Ramsey, Alexis, Walcott, Ozil, Giroud.

Leicester City Squad News

Out: Schlupp (hamstring), James (knee)
Doubts: Amartey (match fitness)

Leicester City will be without Jeffrey Schlupp, out until the end of the month with a hamstring injury. Matthew James has been out since May with an ACL injury; he's off crutches now, but is not ready to come back. Elsewhere, Daniel Amartey lacks match fitness.

This all means that Leicester should be unchanged from the XI that ripped Manchester City apart at the Etihad last weekend. The Foxes are, of course, led up top by Jamie Vardy and Shinji Okazaki, who tends to play more of a support role. Riyad Mahrez is the creative man on the right wing, while Danny Drinkwater and N'Golo Kante have been tenacious at winning the ball in midfield this year.

On the backline, Wes Morgan and Robert Huth are moderately immobile, which means they need support from Drinkwater and Kante as a shield; it also adds further reason for Arsenal to start Theo Walcott on the wing. The fullbacks tend to play narrow, providing even more support for those big center backs.

Predicted XI: Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs, Drinkwater, Albrighton, Kante, Mahrez, Vardy, Okazaki.
Current Form


Mesut Ozil's goal celebration remains pretty creepy.
So, where are we now? Arsenal had gone three league matches without a goal before scoring twice in 88 seconds at the Vitality Stadium last Sunday, in a 2-0 win over Bournemouth. It was Arsenal's first win in the league since January 2, snapping a four match winless run.

With all of that said, Arsenal's 1-0 loss to Chelsea is their only loss since Boxing Day. The problem is those pesky draws. Since the 4-0 loss at Southampton on Boxing Day, Arsenal have five wins (two in the FA Cup,) one loss, and three draws. That's why they've gone from two points clear after match number 20 to five points back of Leicester after match number 25.

Over those five matches, Arsenal have dropped nine points, while Leicester dropped just two (and they were to Aston Villa!?) Going into the second half of the season, my initial expectation was that teams would not be as surprised by Leicester as they were the first time around. However, they've beaten Tottenham, Liverpool, and Manchester City in the past month, putting paid to that theory.

After their trip to the Emirates this weekend, Leicester will have only one road fixture remaining against a team in the current top nine; that's a trip to Old Trafford the final weekend in April. In total, they've only lost twice in the league all season: to Arsenal in September and at Anfield on Boxing Day.

#COYG

Arsenal must win to keep hope alive

This match is a must-win for Arsenal.
Nothing else is acceptable. If we don't win, we can forget the EPL title, and focus on finishing second.


*MODIFIED*

YES!!! YES!!!
WE ARE THE ARSENAL!!!
We effin Did it!!

#Team leicester city
#Team Vardy
#Team Mahrez
#Team Ranieri(The best coach in england)

#TeamFlogArsenal

Arsenal biko.. today na valz don't break my heart

Leicester win will give them the carry cup .

Ma sharply book space, cos arsenal must hearam today.
Leicester city all the way.

Welbeck just showed, why you should never give
up. He was out for 9 months, but scored on his first
match back from injury.

Leicester fit use their juju today

People going out for Valentines , I'm waiting for
the Arsenal vs Leicester City game today. Let's get the three points.

Bleep val, dis match is gonna determine how d val's gonna be..........*bae I'm sorry*

League decider

Saraki should dig out the crimes of BAT and also nail him. That guy looted more than Abacha and Dasuki combined

Liecester all the way!!! #TeamVardyAndMahrez

3-1

BlackMerchant:
Leicester fit use their juju today

I been think say na only me notice am( Buddhism)

leicester for epl cup!

We have been following this prophecy since last year, please guys join us in considering these things.
The prophet is here!
1. Barcelona will win the la liga and the Champions League
back to back for the first time. 2. Arsenal will lose Home and
Away to Barcelona in the UCL. 3. Chelsea will qualify to Q/
final ahead of PSG. 4. Man city will not qualify to quarter
final despite an easy draw against Dynamo kyev. 5. Man
utd will end their unwinning streak in their first match in
January. 6. Chelsea's Hiddink will not lose a match in
January. 7. Bayern Munich will win the Bundesliga. 8.
Tottenham Hotspur will win the EPL. 9. Leicester City will
make the Top 4. 10. Man utd and Chelsea will not make the
top four. 11. Ighalo and Lukaku will end up the two highest
goal scorers in the EPL. 12. Lionel Messi will win the world
best. 13. Juventus will claim the Seria A title again. 14. PSG
will win the French League. 15. Suarez will be the Highest
Goal Scorer in La Liga. 16. Benitez will be sacked before the
end of his tenure in Real Madrid. 17. Mourinho will take
charge of Man utd but will not still make top four. 18. Real
Madrid will drop out at the Quarter Final of the UCL.

COYG....3 points is ours.

May our enemy be as confuse as these

Modify....10 months out,7 mins back,3 touches, 1 vital goal.....its DANNY WELBECK.

top four playing today, pesin must drop points

Arsenal 0 - leicester City 2

That's the scoreline for today,


#Chelsea

my perfect valentine gift would be leicester spanking the gunners.

Omooba77:
Arsenal must win to keep hope alive

if assnal win make $1 million enta my account. up leicester!

I just cry for Arsnal......Mancity wil be like
Happy Val winger

Up gunners ,
No tension we are winning.

If I hear say arsenal win

Today na today for Leicester city.

Na full raping if them no gree open legs for me today.

Shout to all ma frndz who are arsenal fans....varrrrrdddddddyyyyyyy........ussy,sufyan and bangis I see you