Shakespeare Excited By Arsenal Challenge
- Craig Shakespeare previews the test of facing Arsenal on Friday evening
- Leicester City are yet to enjoy a victory over the Gunners in the Premier League era
- The Foxes boss is excited to see how his side open the new 2017/18 season
- Shakespeare's men then host Brighton and Hove Albion next weekend
It will have been 83 days since City’s last top-flight outing when they take to the field at Emirates Stadium to face Arsène Wenger’s side in the Premier League’s curtain raiser.
North London has been unfertile ground for the Foxes in recent seasons but Shakespeare nonetheless views the opening day clash as an opportunity to set out a stall this season.
“The quality of their players, their fan base and the money that they can spend, they’ve always been dangerous,” Shakespeare said.
Shakespeare Previews Gunners Test
Craig Shakespeare spoke to the media on Wednesday ahead of his side's Premier League opener against Arsenal on Friday.
“They’re the FA Cup winners and Community Shield winners and they’ve got tremendous strength in depth so they’ll always be up there.
"[They have made] good additions to the quality they already have there.”
When it was posed to Shakespeare that City are yet to defeat the Gunners during the Premier League era, his response typified the confidence of his squad.
“There’s always a first time,” he said. “It would be nice to think it would be Friday night.”
The days which lead to a new season always bring excitement and Shakespeare says he is no different, but insists that it is his job to control those emotions.
“Sometimes I may not look or sound like it but I’ve been involved in football since the age of 16 and you try and have a calmness outside,” he added.
“Inside, sometimes you can’t wait. We’ve had pre-season and I’m not a massive fan of it.
"You want the first game and that’s when the real-life football starts.
“I think because it is the first game, [the squad] is chomping at the bit to get started.
“Players will put an emphasis on pre-season that they want enough games and minutes on the pitch but whoever we play in the first game is exciting.
“We’re in most competitive league in world at the moment. We’ve spoken about the money spent. We have to try and win most of games that we compete in but we know the rollercoaster that the Premier League can be as well.”