Arsenal - Leicester City preview - Sanchez return boosts top four bid

Posted Tuesday, February 10, 2015 by PA

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is hopeful the return of Alexis Sanchez can boost his side's battle to get back into the top four with victory over Barclays Premier League bottom club Leicester on Tuesday night.

The Gunners went down 2-1 at White Hart Lane on Saturday, hit by a second-half double from Harry Kane to turn the match around after trailing to Mesut Ozil's early volley.

Arsenal are now down in sixth place, but could move up to third should they produce a much-improved display to see off the out-of-form Foxes.

Chile forward Sanchez has plundered 18 goals this season, but was not risked against Spurs because of a hamstring strain.

Wenger, though, is expecting the B£32million signing from Barcelona to boost his options on Tuesday night.

"Alexis Sanchez will be back in the group and we don't have injuries from Saturday. Everybody else looked fine yesterday," said Wenger, who confirmed midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was still out with a groin problem and Jack Wilshere was set to join full training following recovery from ankle surgery.

"He is our best goalscorer and one of our hardest-working players in the team.

"Physically I think we suffered a little bit on some occasions on Saturday and it is good to have him back."

Wenger is confident Arsenal can quickly get the poor display at Tottenham out of their system, having gone into the match on the back of five straight victories.

"We just have to focus on our game," Wenger said.

"We are responsible for what we produce on the pitch and we have to continue to move forward and deal with all the rest.

"The rest is not to influence us. What is important is that our ambition and the way we want to play has to be the strongest influence.

"We had a very strong run just before Saturday. We just want to continue that and respond very strongly to the disappointment."

Leicester manager Nigel Pearson will lead his team at the Emirates Stadium, the club having released a statement to deny reports he had been dismissed on Sunday evening.

Wenger is not expecting a walk-over.

He said: "They are a team who fights to survive in the Premier League, that means it demands a complete focus from us."

Pearson has refused to clear up the confusion surrounding his job.

He said: "I am, today, managing this club as I have been for the last three and three-quarter years, and I am looking to get my team as best prepared as possible for a big game against Arsenal.

"I understand the interest and you wanting to ask questions, but I have loyalties to the people I work for, my staff and the players, which really is more important to me than trying to clarify things for a story which was based on speculation."

Pearson expects to be in charge for the rest of the season as the Foxes battle the drop but insisted all his focus is on tackling Arsenal on Tuesday.

"I've had conversations, absolutely," he said when asked if he had received reassurances about his job.

"I am always happy to take the responsibility that being a manager brings.

"The club made a statement and I'm not going to speak about it.

"We have a game tomorrow and it's important my focus, and the focus of the players, is on what we can do tomorrow night rather than talk about something I'm not prepared to talk about.

"I always have a very good working relationship with the owners and I'm sure I will moving forward.

"If I have got things to say I will say it in the appropriate manner to the appropriate people.

"In an ideal world I would rather the story not be out there. I had an interesting Sunday."

Robert Huth is in the Leicester squad for the trip and could make his Foxes debut at the Emirates.

The defender, on loan from Stoke, has completed a two-game suspension after being banned by the Football Association for breaching its social media regulations.

Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel (broken foot) remains an absentee and Chris Wood is still struggling with an ankle injury for the rock-bottom Foxes.