Steve Cooper has the unenviable task of devising a plan to help his Leicester City side get a result away at Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday.
Arsenal are undoubtedly going to again challenge Manchester City for the Premier League title this season so Leicester City will have to play at their absolute maximum to get anything from The Emirates.
Steve Cooper knows his side’s form would suggest this is not possible – particularly after draws with Everton and fourth-tier Walsall in the last week – but football can throw up surprises in a way few other sports can.
Cooper certainly needs his luck to turn, with Leicester fans already growing restless at the performances as well as results and Arsenal could provide a perfect opportunity to prove a few people wrong.
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Leicester City team news for Arsenal clash
Cooper is in the fortunate position of having an almost fully fit squad to choose from.
The only significant absentee is centre-forward Patson Daka, with the Zambian a long-term absentee having required surgery on an ankle injury sustained in the final friendly of pre-season.
The other player set to miss out is fourth-choice goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk.
Cooper made ten changes as Leicester needed penalties to beat Walsall in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night and many of those involved failed to stake a claim to start against Arsenal.
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Leicester City predicted lineup against Arsenal
Despite Danny Ward’s penalty shootout heroics in midweek, Mads Hermansen is the number one at Leicester and will keep his place.
Caleb Okoli was the only player who played against Everton to keep his place against Walsall and will lineup alongside Wout Faes at centre-back with James Justin and Victor Kristiansen at full-back.
Midfield is where Cooper is expected to make his one change to the side that drew with Everton, as he brings Oliver Skipp back into the into the team alongside Harry Winks with Wilfred Ndidi pushing slightly further forward.
This will give Leicester a more solid feel against tough opposition in Arsenal and Skipp should replace Bilal El Khannouss who was dubbed ‘lightweight’ in a disappointing full debut against Everton last weekend.
Stephy Mavididi is a man in form with two goals in his last two games and should continue on the left flank and Jordan Ayew may keep his place due to his defensive qualities despite struggling against Everton.
Up front, Jamie Vardy will of course lead the line as he remains the main man even at 37.
With all that in mind, here is how we predict Leicester will lineup against Arsenal.
Leicester City (4-2-3-1): Hermansen; Justin, Faes, Okoli, Kristiansen; Winks, Skipp; Ayew, Ndidi, Mavididi; Vardy