The Fosse Way’s Hazzetta season preview - 1: Arsenal and Aston Villa
After a popular introductory run of the Hazzetta Dello Sport during Leicester City’s little holiday to the Championship, Harry Gregory is back with more of what you need to know (and what you didn’t know you needed to know).
The summer break is a necessary recharge from the obsessive emotional nature of the football season. In May, it felt well required. The rollercoaster nature to the end of Enzo Maresca’s time at Leicester had me experiencing mood swings you’d associate with a teenager. While I’d like to say I am back in August full of anticipation, somehow my football club have managed to stress me out over the summer.
In a combination of bad news stories, it was not so much double down… rather triple and eventually quadruple down. Your position can differ on gambling sponsorship, ticket price rises or the £25 physical card charge, but they have all fractured an already divided fanbase further.
Even once there was the feelgood factor of Abdul Fatawu’s signing and Steve Cooper presenting himself as a humble individual, the club introduced a £10 charge to stream pre-season games. The norm for other football clubs is £5.
The prospects aren’t great. An autumn points deduction is either going to snip the wings of an excellent start or bury us another foot under a relegation zone grave. There’s an air of resignation around the fanbase. The spectre of Danny Ward acting as Banquo from the Shakespeare play Macbeth isn’t helping those fears.
There are a few unknowns which excite slightly. How will Fatawu get on? Can Jamie Vardy have a run which takes him higher on the Premier League all-time goalscorers chart? Will Ricardo, Wilf or Harry Winks step up for an Indian summer?
The Hazzetta’s glossy complimentary season preview magazine is here. Rather than the clickbait judgements of other illustrious media sources, we are dealing with the important information about each of the other 19 teams in the Premier League that affects us, the fans:
The away day scope of each opponent and the adjacency to excellent pubs or a spot of culture
Opposition supporters’ potential for a meltdown
Likelihood of a points deduction (for them, rather than us)
Their most likely goalscorer against the Foxes
In amongst this, we have managed to hire a highly intelligent supercomputer at Fosse Way Towers which has outputted each club’s expected relegation (xR) and the predictions for their season performance.
Arsenal
Last season: 2nd.
Fixtures v Leicester: Home - 15th February / Away – 28th September
In the summer of 2016, when life was mad and Leicester were the best football team in the country, one of the more memorable tremors from social media was the Arsenal fan who went out, bought a shirt and had Mahrez printed on the back.
We’ve had our issues with Arsenal. In fact, it’s been quite funny how we’ve rubbed them up the wrong way at times. Unfortunately, they have got their act together recently and with Mikel Arteta playing the unorthodox winger/manager role most games, you’d expect the Gunners to be contending for the title again.
Away day scope
In my opinion, the best London away end in proximity to excellent pubs. You could choose to drink in any of Islington, Kentish Town or more towards King’s Cross and find a range of excellent boozers.
Fancy a stroll beforehand and the weather is clear? Head over to Hampstead Heath and take in a mighty view of London.
Opposition meltdown?
Arsenal have recently led a crackdown on the shared use of tickets which has led to season ticket holders and members getting banned.
The Arsenal Supporters Trust were very broad in their criticism of a 10% increase in season ticket prices and they are at the front of the Football Governance Bill movement. Their ultras group, Ashburton Army, is at odds with the club and that’s expected to rumble on.
Points deduction
No - quite simply too much revenue. Arsenal have steadied their financial issues in recent years and have overhauled their squad in a more sustainable manner.
Likely opposition goalscorer
Ben White – a menace on corners, marking the goalkeeper and probably bagging a brace at the Emirates in late September. After Kyle Walker’s international retirement due to him taking a second job to service his child maintenance debt, the calls for White to return to the England fold grow louder.
xR
No chance.
The super computer tells us top four. A 23% chance of winning the title but 100% certain of top four.
Aston Villa
Last season: 4th
Fixtures v Leicester: Home - 31st August / Away - 4th January
No other opposition is more symbolic of Leicester City’s unstable nature. When City were crowned champions in 2016, Villa went down to the Championship and spent three years at the second tier as Steve Bruce was dodging cabbages.
Then, we crossed paths memorably in the 2019/20 League Cup semi-final which summed up the way Leicester were developing a soft mentality. We’ve danced with each other throughout the seasons but a full rotation has occurred since 2016. Villa find themselves in the Champions League while the Foxes scrap at the bottom. It’s a bloody good job then we have a knack for a shock win at Villa Park.
Away day scope
For years it was a home fixture for me. I could get to Villa Park from my door in thirty minutes. Still it is a very easy trip for Leicester supporters. Birmingham has plenty to offer around New Street for a drink or ten. Then head on to Villa Park via Witton or Aston rail stations.
For those wanting a lovely brunch or bakery treat, I highly recommend Medicine located on New Street. A beautiful building inside, it’s also a treat for the tastebuds.
Opposition meltdown?
Very similar to ourselves, the club have taken advantage of demand to increase ticket prices up to £70 for top category fixtures. Thus leading to the astounding potential of paying £70 to watch Aston Villa play Wolves. There’s an undercurrent of annoyance that the planned redevelopment of Villa Park has been pushed back. There is not a lot to grumble about on the pitch, though.
Points deduction
Villa were one of the clubs to play FFP swap-shop in June to make the figures work. Without the Champions League revenue, there would be real pressure on them to comply with FFP. It now looks unlikely that they would fail.
Likely opposition goalscorer
Youri Tielemans - casually strolls through midfield, leaves Wilf in a heap on the floor and unleashes a ripsnorter into the top corner. No celebration.
xR
Unlikely. Super computer says 15% of top four and Champions League qualification. 61% chance of European qualification.
