Rodgers claims Arsenal will come ‘very, very close’ to winning the title on one condition
Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers says Arsenal will come “very, very close” to winning the Premier League title if they “keep everyone fit”.
The Gunners retained Premier League top spot with a 1-0 victory over Rodgers’ men on Saturday with Gabriel Martinelli scoring the only goal of the game early in the second half.
Arsenal are two points ahead of second-placed Manchester City with Mikel Arteta’s men having a game in hand on Pep Guardiola’s side.
And having witnessed Arsenal first-hand on Saturday, Leicester boss Rodgers reckons only injuries can stop the Gunners from pushing City all the way.
Rodgers told reporters: “I think they’re going to go very close. They’re outstanding and I think they’ve been like that through the season.
“The scoreboard was obviously close but in terms of football and technical ability they were on a different level.
“I think they’ll go very close they’ve got a top young goalkeeper, back four’s solid, the two centre halves are strong and aggressive, Zinchenko has done great since he’s come in and adds a different dimension to the game in midfield with his technical quality and strength.
“The two wingers are top class in particular Saka, he’s a top level.
“I said it last year Arsenal about getting into the top four if they keep everyone fit then they would’ve done that.
“Unfortunately they had injuries and I think this year it will be the same if they keep everyone fit they will get very, very close. They’re an outstanding team.”
Arsenal brought in Jorginho, Leandro Trossard and Jakub Kiwior in the January transfer market as they looked to strengthen their squad ahead of the title run-in.
On the impact that Jorginho and Trossard have had since arriving, Arteta told reporters: “Two players already that have experience in the league, that really fitted our way of playing, really intelligent both of them to understand what is required in many situations that we demand them to execute certain things and they have the personality to come here and play the way they played is what is required at this level.”
On the club’s transfer strategy to bring in the January signings, Arteta added: “Really happy, because we were very clear what we wanted to do.
“We could not do it and we had to adapt, in the window you have to be able to do that, not feel sorry for ourselves, and I think everybody from owners to the board, Edu especially, they were really, really strong in trying to do what we have to do and we were first there to get the options we wanted.”