Steve Cooper’s Job at Leicester May Be on the Line if He Fails to Address Key Issue Against Arsenal – Opinion

Leicester City’s performance was far from convincing, with boos from visiting supporters heard at full-time.

Steve Cooper, the manager, also faced criticism from Leicester fans during the game, with chants of “Cooper, sort it out” echoing around the stadium about an hour into the match.

Pressure is building on the former Nottingham Forest boss, and it feels like he’s entering a critical period where the next two weeks could determine his future at the club.

To turn things around, Cooper must address one significant issue ahead of Leicester’s upcoming game against Arsenal.

The problem lies in Cooper’s tactical system. Currently, he sticks to a formation that doesn’t suit his best players.

The 44-year-old typically uses only one winger, as he prefers one full-back to push high up the field like a wing-back, while the other drops into a back three.

This setup has seen Viktor Kristiansen playing more defensively, while James Justin takes on the advanced role.

Unfortunately, this formation has left standout players like Abdul Fatawu and Ricardo Pereira on the bench, despite their strong performances last season.

Against Arsenal, Cooper should switch to a traditional back four, bringing Pereira into the starting lineup, and fielding both Fatawu and Stephy Mavididi on the wings.

Fatawu was Leicester’s biggest threat in the recent match against Walsall.

He was the only player who consistently looked like creating something, making him a crucial figure for the upcoming Arsenal match.

The Ghanaian international contributed to 20 goals last season and, even on off-days, remained a valuable outlet.

Without Fatawu, Leicester have lacked any real threat on the right side, becoming overly dependent on Mavididi.

Cooper urgently needs to address these tactical issues before it’s too late.