Leicester City can take plenty of positives from their FA Cup defeat to Manchester United when they resume their battle against Premier League relegation versus Arsenal.

That is the view of defender Caleb Okoli, as the 18th-placed Foxes prepare to welcome Mikel Arteta's title chasers to the King Power Stadium. 

Ruud van Nistelrooy's Leicester were beaten 2-1 by Manchester United in the cup last week, with Harry Maguire's last-gasp winner allowed to stand despite the defender appearing to be offside, with VAR not in use in the competition's fourth round.

Since Van Nistelrooy's first game in charge of Leicester in December, only Southampton have lost more games (nine) and won fewer points (four) than the Foxes (eight losses, seven points) in the Premier League.

Yet Okoli thinks their cup performance could breed some positivity as they gear up for a crucial period in their fight to avoid the drop.

"We can restart from this performance, and hopefully I get more and more starts in the Premier League," he said.

"We were so unlucky with the result, but I think it was a great performance from my team-mates and all the squad.

"The decision went against us, but we'll take the performance and try to do it in the Premier League. The main thing is that we have to look up and just keep going."

Arsenal, meanwhile, have suffered a huge double blow in their bid to chase down leaders Liverpool, with both Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz sidelined by injuries.

In an update given on Thursday, the Gunners revealed that Havertz would miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season after suffering the setback during a warm-weather training camp in Dubai, and Arsenal failed to bring in a forward in the mid-season transfer window.

Speaking before the trip to Dubai, which came shortly after their EFL Cup semi-final defeat to Newcastle, Arteta said: "Now we have to look forward and when we're in Dubai, recharge and go again because we still have a lot to play for.  

"We've been super consistent, we've been really composed, so what can I say?"

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Leicester City – Jamie Vardy 

Vardy has scored more Premier League goals against Arsenal than he has versus any other opponent (11). 

Only Harry Kane (14) and Wayne Rooney (12) have netted more often against the Gunners in the competition.

Arsenal – Ethan Nwanieri 

Only Michael Owen and Rooney (nine each) have scored more goals for a Premier League side while aged 17 or younger than Arsenal youngster Nwaneri (seven).

With Havertz now feared to be out for the remainder of the season, Arsenal need their wide players to step up with more goals, and Nwaneri could be a candidate.

MATCH PREDICTION – ARSENAL WIN

Leicester have lost each of their last six Premier League games against Arsenal, having won four of their six against the Gunners before this run (one draw, one defeat).

Arsenal have also won their last three Premier League away games against Leicester, just one fewer than they managed across their first 14 visits to Filbert Street or the King Power Stadium in the competition (four wins, six draws, four defeats).

The Gunners have won 21 of their last 25 Premier League matches against sides sitting inside the relegation zone (three draws, one loss), with their only defeat in that spell coming away to 19th-placed Everton in February 2023 (0-1).

They are also unbeaten in each of their last 14 Premier League games (nine wins, five draws). 

They have not gone longer without suffering a defeat in the competition since enjoying a 16-match run between December 2010 and April 2011 under Arsene Wenger.

Leicester have lost each of their last four Premier League home games without scoring – only Sheffield Wednesday in 1919-20, Birmingham City in 1921-22 and Norwich City in 2019-20 have ever lost five in a row on home turf to nil in a single top-flight campaign.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Leicester City – 12.1%

Arsenal – 69.8%

Draw – 18.1%