Extra-Time Talking Points: Rocking Atmosphere, Spare Midfielders & Rodgers’ Press
- Gerry Taggart, Arlo White and Rob Tanner analysed Leicester City’s latest Premier League outing on Extra-Time
- The Foxes beat Arsenal 2-0 at King Power Stadium on Saturday
- Taggart, White and Tanner all provided their thoughts on the triumph
Second-half strikes from Jamie Vardy and James Maddison sealed a memorable win over the Gunners on Filbert Way, as the Foxes moved up to second in the top-flight rankings after 12 games.
International broadcaster White and The Athletic’s Tanner joined Taggart on Monday night’s episode of Extra-Time, and all three were in attendance on Saturday to watch City make it five victories on the spin in all competitions.
Bouncing King Power Stadium
Arlo White said: “It took me back a little bit to the title-winning season and then the Champions League nights subsequent to that. The place was absolutely rocking. Our position is opposite the tunnel at the back of the stand, and when the goals went in, you were physically bouncing up and down! The atmosphere was absolutely brilliant and the team feed off it. They help to create the atmosphere with the way they’re playing, and then they respond to it.”
Rocking atmosphere
Rob Tanner said: “The fans are loving what they’re seeing. I have a colleague now who comes from The Athletic to cover the opposition team and they sit next to me every week, and nearly all of them say ‘I love coming here because the atmosphere is great’. King Power Stadium is really rocking now.”
Under the lights
Gerry Taggart said: “I don’t think there’s any better occasion than when you’re playing under the lights. I don’t know what it’s like elsewhere in the country, but when I played here at Filbert Street, it was a fantastic occasion. What went on before the game – the memorial for the veterans – just added to the atmosphere. The fans played their part, it was that little bit extra-special.”
City’s spare midfielder
Arlo White said: “We thought when the teams came out that it was obvious that Arsenal were going with a back three, or a back five as it happens, because the full-backs were pinned back for most of the game. The thought was that City would have a spare player in the centre of the park and that’s what it proved to be.”
Clean tackling
Rob Tanner said: “That’s Brendan Rodgers’ plan – the press. They do it every day on the training ground. Another interesting thing is that amount of yellow cards Leicester are picking up – they are bottom of the league in terms of bookings. They’re clean tackles – they’re not diving in and it’s not reckless defending, it’s all part of the game plan.”
Everyone is playing their part
Gerry Taggart said: “We could sit here and talk about every player and how well they’re performing. Everybody is playing their part this season. I’ve never seen an Arsenal side come here and sit back like they did.”
Ndidi’s dispossession stats
Arlo White said: “It you look at the stats, since Wilfred Ndidi made his debut in January 2017, he leads the Premier League in tackles. He’s got 100 more than the next best and this season, he’s leading them too. In second place, there’s Ricardo Pereira, so you can see that this team doesn’t just play good football – they work tirelessly to win the ball back and give themselves the base to play that football.”