How Leicester’s Premier League title win was inspired by LOSING at Arsenal before 5000-1 fairytale
LEICESTER legend Marc Albrighton knew Foxes were on their way to something special after their trip to Arsenal eight years ago — despite losing.
Tomorrow’s Emirates clash looks one-sided on paper, but both clubs were going for the title back in February 2016.
Leicester led through Jamie Vardy before Theo Walcott levelled and Danny Welbeck hit an injury-time winner.
But Claudio Ranieri’s side saw how Gunners celebrated their victory.
Albrighton retired last month after a 15-year career that peaked with Leicester’s stunning title triumph three months after that defeat
He said: “We took a lot of drive from their celebrations after and how much of an achievement it was for them to beat us.
“If you look at the fixtures following that we went on to win six or seven of the next games. That showed what we took from the defeat at Arsenal.
“It gave us a lot of credit in terms of a team like Arsenal and sort of what it meant for them to beat us that day.
“Winning the Premier League was the bigger achievement but that takes nothing away from staying in the league the season before.
“That was incredible, we were dead and buried and it was definitely something that nobody had seen coming.
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“After the win at Manchester City people started talking but I would have never said it was ours to lose.
“We were just pleased with the position we were in, it was great.
“And I would be surprised if a fairytale like ours ever happens again, I can’t see it but we proved anything is possible.”
Ranieri’s miracle men torpedoed 5,000-1 odds only 12 months after Nigel Pearson had pulled off a great escape by erasing a seven-point gap in the final nine games.
Foxes face another relegation battle under Steve Cooper this season but Albrighton, 34, believes the Welshman is the right man for the job.
He added: “Cooper can keep them up, he’s got enough in the dressing room. They’ve got the right man in charge to be able to stay in the league.
“He’s a smart appointment and has proven that he can do it at that end of the table.
“They would have wanted a steady start and that’s what they have done.
“Hopefully they can get a few wins on board and take confidence and push on from there.”