Following their disappointing 3-1 defeat last weekend at the hands of first place Leicester City, Manchester City prepare for another tough clash this weekend against Tottenham Hotspur.
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In the shorter term Leicester attempt to preserve a five-point lead at the Emirates Stadium tomorrow (Sunday), and Ranieri tried to shift the spotlight back on to Arsenal.
“The money and the big gap?”
“Why must I feel pressure”, asked Ranieri.
“We enjoy it, and the fans must continue to dream”. Nobody wake us up please.
Tottenham are in second place with 13 games remaining, five points behind Leicester and ahead of third-placed Arsenal on goal difference.
Arsenal themselves back-tracked a week ago after initially announcing a surcharge for season ticket holders for next year to cover the cost of their ticket for the forthcoming Champions League tie with Barcelona.
“Time to think can be a disadvantage if you not are thinking in a positive way and the pressure is on”, he said. If we can’t win the title, I hope you can.’ All the fans are saying this.
The Foxes are now the bookies’ favourites to win the title, but here’s why I think the Gunners will at least slow down Leicester’s challenge this weekend.
Leicester City started the 2015 – 16 Premier League campaign with the hope of staying in the English top flight by the end of the season.
“I’ve had to adapt little things, but the pace and aggression has always been there since I remember playing football, because nine times out of 10 I’m playing football against people that are bigger than me so I have to put my weight around a bit more”.
“When I heard about Claudio Ranieri’s appointment at the start of the season I thought they would struggle”.
In what should be a close encounter between the two teams, Leicester City will display the cutting edge they showed against Manchester City and dispose of another one of their rivals for the title. Confident, in form and winning games by the odd goal, this is their best chance.
“I wouldn’t like to use that as an excuse”, Wenger added.
Matty James remains out as he recovers from a knee injury while Jeffrey Schlupp (hamstring) may still be a couple of weeks from a return.
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Leicester were bottom of the table when they last visited Arsenal a year ago and with the game falling on Valentine’s Day, Wenger appreciates the romance of their rise.
