[sbu_large_image] Dugout Discussion
14 February 2016 1791 comments
James Barnes James Barnes
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Arsenal’s home clash against Leicester City marks the first of two crucial match-ups at the business-end of the table this Sunday, with fellow title challengers Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur crossing swords in the tea-time clash. The Gunners banished a four-match winless run with a victory over Bournemouth last Gameweek, while the Foxes comprehensively outclassed City in their own backyard.

Arsenal struggled to exert their influence in the final third over the last four Gameweeks, recording two goals and a middling tally of attempts (49). They compensated for that deficiency with a strong showing at the back, conceding a solitary goal and the joint-fewest big chances (three). In terms of their home form, only Manchester United’s defence has been breached on fewer occasions (five) than Arsenal’s (seven).

Following a four-match stretch that yielded a solitary goal, the Foxes reaffirmed their attacking prowess over the previous quartet of match-ups, ranking third for goals (nine), second for big chances (12) and second for shots on target (23). That didn’t come at the expense of defensive diligence, though, as the East Midlanders allowed just two goals and four big chances across that stretch.

  1. drughi
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    The feeling when vardy outscores the 4 other players you got in the game #thisseason

  2. Ayew Serious
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Fuchs or Huth they said

    Simpson 8 pointer incoming

    1. Kered
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Simpson here 😉

    2. Sif
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Smiling from a lot of benches.

    3. Zizoulicious
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Last in the bench again!

    4. Hy liverpool
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      arsenal will score

    5. Garlana
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Simpson 3rd on bench... Don't think the cleanie will last though

  3. Alittude
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Any chance alli shat his dacks again and has to stay home?

    1. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Yeah

  4. Sailboats
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Hamez Vardinho

  5. ARKANOIIDE
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Come on Vardy lets go party!

  6. davies
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    WE ARE STAYING UP

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      woohoooooo

    2. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      When did you think it was going to end ?

    3. money face bandwagon
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      congrats

  7. Stephen - Robot Daniels
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Might have to get Vardy early and enjoy the price rises this week

    1. super zlatan
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      No FA cup match for him so why not.

  8. Venom Snake
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Arsenal supporters whinging about diving.

    Classic.

    1. Wilshere Knowledge
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      When did we last get a pen from diving?

      Probably Cazorla v West Brom 3 and a half years ago?

  9. FPL Daniel
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Who assisted?

    1. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Vardy

    2. Sailboats
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      No one. Vardy won the pen

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks

  10. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Wow. They'll be 8 points clear if they win. Of course Spurs and City play later, but still

    1. Ayew Serious
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Spurs and City draw

    2. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Aye, and either way one of their rivals will drop points guaranteed.

    3. Garlana
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Holding on for a goal fest!

  11. Hy liverpool
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    kante here kante there kante kante kante .. when this fecker will stop running 🙂

  12. Scratch
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    So many sour people here. Leicester could stretch their lead stop whining

  13. El Patron
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Good ol bottling Arsenal, lovin it 😀

  14. Hibbo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Never a dive from Vardy.

    Monreal cut him in half ffs.

    1. Wilshere Knowledge
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Vardy kicked his left leg out at Monreal...

    2. Sailboats
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Ref should be sacked if he didn't give the pen

  15. Eden Hazardous
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Any striker would have dived in that situation. If its anybody's fault , its the refs. Why are some people blaming Vardy?

    1. Wilshere Knowledge
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Because the scale of cheating in the sport doesn't excuse the individual cheaters.

      1. walkman666
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        How is drawing a foul cheating? This is the only sport where I see this childish whining. If you're talking about "fair play" or sportsmanship, then you need to leave la la land and join the world of sports reality. They play to win.

    2. Epic Fail
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      He'd be an idiot to stay on his feet.

      1. Eden Hazardous
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        Agreed

      2. Jay Jay Okocha
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        This. Is he supposed to dive out of the way when Monreal makes that challenge?

    3. Garlana
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Tbh I've seen much worse than that, Monreal lunged in a tad and then tried to recover, pretty risky strategy against a player with vardys pace

    4. Jet5605
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      It's neither the players' nor the ref's fault. The lack of video ref or TMO makes it the wild west on the pitch and players know they can get away with it. The fault lies with the governing body.

  16. French Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    I guess the ref just going to gift wrap the title to Leiceister.

    What a disgrace

    1. Sailboats
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Your tears.. they taste gr8 m8

  17. Chucky
    • 12 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Arsenal totally bottling this, no fight 😆

    1. AlvaroS
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Like Chelsea title defence this year?

      1. Eden Hazardous
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        😎

        Exactly

    2. super zlatan
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Only half time.

      Silly Chucky

    3. chinmusic
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      I disagree. They're up for it but just aren't good enough

  18. AlvaroS
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    45 minutes for wenger to save his career. It's not acceptable to lose the league to Leicester City

    1. Garlana
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      I think it is. Leicester have earned that right. They're not mug's.

  19. Trae44
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Safe to go Lukaku to Vardy now?

    1. super zlatan
      • 15 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Wait until the match is over you jerky fucher

      1. Trae44
        • 10 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        Didn't mean right now

      2. Garlana
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        Lol I see what you did there

    2. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Might as well wait. Maybe Firmino or Kun gets injured.

    3. Sjaugen
      • 10 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Wait for the second half. But no EL or cups for Leicester

    4. Jet5605
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Wait until all three games have been completed if you have players featuring

  20. Zizoulicious
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Thanks Thierry and Jamie for clearing it up. 100% penalty

    1. Barcelinda
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      Agree

  21. SW6
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 2 months ago

    Can you imagine if that WASN'T given as a penalty. We may as well cancel all football. Stonewall penalty.

    1. SW6
      • 13 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      (Yes I changed my mind)

    2. Leaf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 2 months ago

      I think Vardy ran into monreal

      1. SW6
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        They collided with each other = penalty. Monreal was about 5 minutes away from getting the ball.

        1. @persecuted_by_mods
            10 years, 2 months ago

            Nope, monreals legs were planted but vardy deliberately kicked out his left leg to cause the collision. The ball went the opposite direction

        2. @persecuted_by_mods
            10 years, 2 months ago

            I agree, he ran into monreal and kicked out his leg when the ball was going the opposite way.

        3. Jet5605
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 2 months ago

          Monreal planting his leg gave Vardy the opportunity to fall over his leg.

      2. Ron_Swanson
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        Leicester have the second lowest (41%) average possession, lowest passes per game and lowest passing accuracy in the whole league!

        1. tisza
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 2 months ago

          don't get this obsession with possesion stats etc. it's what you do with the ball when you have it.
          Utd probably have great possession & passing stats but when you're doing it in your own half doesn't mean anything.
          arsenal got 67% possession 1st half and haven't looked the better side.

      3. Bøwstring The Carp
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        Sanchez equaliser and Mahrez winner would suit me down to the ground....

        1. Kagawa-san-mia
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 2 months ago

          i would love that with an ozil assist and vardy assist

      4. Davido989
        • 15 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        Sometimes you get decisions, sometimes you don't. How crap would football be if there was no controversy.

        1. Ron_Swanson
          • 15 Years
          10 years, 2 months ago

          True - but there should be no controversy on that one.

        2. Wilshere Knowledge
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 2 months ago

          If you like football because of poor refereeing decisions, you don't really like football.

      5. Stephen - Robot Daniels
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        Who's on pens for Arsenal, can see a soft one coming their way second half.

        1. chinmusic
          • 16 Years
          10 years, 2 months ago

          Giroud

        2. Trae44
          • 10 Years
          10 years, 2 months ago

          Giroud

        3. Eden Hazardous
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 2 months ago

          gru

        4. Hy liverpool
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 2 months ago

          giru

      6. French Gooner
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        10 years, 2 months ago

        What abt the handball pen not given to Arsenal at 0-0 ?

        1. Epic Fail
          • 15 Years
          10 years, 2 months ago

          What about it?

        2. Venom Snake
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 2 months ago

          Lol.

        3. chinmusic
          • 16 Years
          10 years, 2 months ago

          More chest than arm

        4. Kagawa-san-mia
          • 14 Years
          10 years, 2 months ago

          too close to kante, knew nothing about that

        5. @persecuted_by_mods
            10 years, 2 months ago

            Lol pls.

          • The Bandit
            • 15 Years
            10 years, 2 months ago

            Lol at your whining 😀

        6. Venom Snake
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 2 months ago

          It will be a real shame that if Leicester do win the title that it will be remembered for the likes of Man City, United, Arsenal and Chelsea underperforming.
          It should be remembered for the wonderful football Leicester have brought us over an entire season.

        7. French Gooner
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          10 years, 2 months ago

          Atkinson worse than Michael Oliver yesterday

          1. chinmusic
            • 16 Years
            10 years, 2 months ago

            I'd be pretty cross if I was a Gooner.

        8. Jay_
            10 years, 2 months ago

            Fecking loving this lads, Leicester to win the league at 8/1 and a Leicester (11/4) Spurs (13/8) draw no bet double 🙂 oh and own Vardy too

            1. Ron_Swanson
              • 15 Years
              10 years, 2 months ago

              8/1 - great work. If they win this, and Spurs lose its a sure thing IMO

              1. Jay_
                  10 years, 2 months ago

                  Cheers mate, put it on just before they beat Liverpool

                  1. Ron_Swanson
                    • 15 Years
                    10 years, 2 months ago

                    I'm really tempted to lump on at evens! Might be shorter than that by the end of today...

            2. Big Bad Barry
              • 15 Years
              10 years, 2 months ago

              I still fancy the Arsenal 2-1. Lucky pen

              1. Ron_Swanson
                • 15 Years
                10 years, 2 months ago

                It was a good pen, if only he'd taken the last 2