(1) 1 - 1 (0) Arsenal

Filbert Street. Saturday 12th September 1998

FA Carling Premiership

team news Emmanuel Petit sits this one out because of suspension. We expect Hughes or Vivas to take his place, although Garde and Grimandi are also possibilities.
Not there yet, but there will probably be a preview of sorts on AFCi later today (Friday)
See the New ArseWeb Arsenal vs Leicester page for head-to-head stats and Leicester links.
News for US Gooners
Setanta Sport are showing Leicester City v Arsenal live from Filbert Street at 10am EST/7am PST.
There will be another opportunity to watch it on Fox Sports Net on Sunday evening as it is the main match on their two hour show of coverage of all the Premier League games. It's on at 7pm Sunday evening in California, make sure you check your local listings to see what time it's on where you live, as it may differ from state to state. (thanks to Lawrence for this info)

(1) 1 - 1 (0) Arsenal

Filbert Street. Saturday 12th September 1998

FA Carling Premiership

Scorers:  Heskey 28             Huges 90

Arsenal:
           Seaman
Dixon Bould Keown Winterburn 
Parlour Vieira (Garde 71) Hughes Overmars
   Wreh (Anelka 59) Bergkamp

Leicester (formation?):
           Keller
Kaamark Elliott Savage Guppy
Izzett Lennon Sinclair Zagorakis (Campbell 45)
      Cottee Heskey

Another draw at Filbert Street thanks to a very late goal, but this time it wasn't a 6-goal thriller (see last season's encounter) and this time it was Arsenal playing catch-up.

Arsenal fielded a changed line-up with Hughes coming in for the suspended Petit, and Wreh preferred to Anelka. Wreh had the ball in the back of the net early on after Bergkamp had brilliantly put Parlour clear on the right and Ray's low cross was put on a plate for the Liberian. But the goal was rightly ruled out for offside.

A few minutes earlier an Izzet header had hit our post, and Leicester continued to threaten. Their goal came after Heskey had injured himself fouling Stephen Hughes. He left the pitch, and then collected the ball soon after coming back on. He ran from just inside our half, and our defence opened up to let him through. They had a half=hearted stab at getting a challenge in when he reached the edge of the penalty area but it was all too late. One could wonder if Seaman should have got to the low drive but it was well hit, and the bigger share of blame has to go to the men in front of him.

There were more chances at both ends, with Bergkamp and Overmars both forcing saves from Keller, and Heskey continuing to look dangerous at the other end. Overmars wasted a couple of chances, but really we looked less likely to equalise than they did to extend the lead. As the game came to an end Arsenal threw men forward, but the goal came from midfield. Hughes picked it up just inside our half, advanced a short way, looked up, and stroked it towards goal from 30 yards or so. Not as fierce a shot as Heskey's, but Keller coule maybe be excused because of the awkward bounce.

At the back we appeared to miss Adams (rested because of his dodgy ankle but not, apparently, injured), and up front we're still lacking goals. Although to be fair Bergkamp and Overmars looked a little more lively than of late. Apart from the goal, Hughes didn't do much to suggest he'll be challenging Petit for a place, although neither really did Vieira!

Wenger made some comments about Heskey that suggested (or have been interpreted as doing so) that we'll be in the chase for Heskey at the end of the season. He'll have a year on his contract left then so for Leicester it could then be a question of sell or lose him under Bosman. That'll be the first name on next year's silly season transfer rumour list then!

The Ljungberg signing has been confirmed by Arsenal.

report by Rupe.

Other reports

ANR
AFCi

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