Leicester City vs Arsenal preview - Cam on down

Posted Saturday, August 30, 2014 by PA

Esteban Cambiasso could make his Leicester debut against Arsenal if he receives international clearance in time.

The Foxes pulled off a surprise transfer coup this week in attracting former Argentina international Cambiasso to the King Power Stadium.

Manager Nigel Pearson is confident the big-name signing will not upset the team harmony he has worked hard to nurture during his time at the club.

Cambiasso has made clear, even at the age of 34 and after winning numerous trophies during his previous 10 years with Inter Milan prior to his release this summer, he is eager to make history with City.

But, as has been witnessed at numerous clubs in the past, such a stellar acquisition can often have an unsettling effect on those around them.

Pearson, however, has no doubt about the type of player and character Cambiasso is, especially after seeing how well he was received by his new team-mates on Friday.

"He's been welcomed into the group, as you would expect him to be," Pearson said of the 52-times capped international.

"The players have been quite excited about the prospect of having somebody of that stature in the game being alongside them.

"But Esteban will view himself as one of the players, one of the squad, which is a very positive thing."

Pearson also believes Cambiasso will be able to teach him a trick or two given the player's "world-wide experience".

"I, like anybody, have a capacity to keep learning," Pearson added.

"Certainly if somebody comes with the wealth of experience he has, I will probably - if I've an open enough mind - continue to learn from people like him.

"I don't see that as being anything other than positive. Managers learn as much from players, as players do from managers and coaches.

"I've always had that sort of view, and hopefully I'll continue to learn from my players as well."

Aside from the prospect of Cambiasso making his debut, Pearson has midfielders Marc Albrighton and Danny Drinkwater and striker Jamie Vardy available again following injuries, but midfielder Matty James (shin) and defender Matthew Upson (foot) are definitely out.

Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey returns from suspension.

Midfielder Mikel Arteta continues to be sidelined with an ankle problem and striker Olivier Giroud (tibia), full-back Kieran Gibbs (hamstring) and winger Theo Walcott (knee) are also in the treatment room.

Boss Arsene Wenger recalls his visit to the Foxes in 1997 early in his Gunners reign when Dennis Bergkamp scored a hat-trick in a remarkable 3-3 draw.

"I remember the first sensational goal with Dennis Bergkamp. Many times I have said that that goal is one of the greatest goals I've seen in my career," Wenger said.

"It was also my first experience with Ian Wright - he didn't understand why I took him off.

"I wanted to spare him some minutes at the end of the game, but Wright was always keen to play."