Revitalised Leicester reaping rewards after holding with Brendan Rodgers

In return for a taste of his whisky, no less, singer-songwriter Kenny Rogers was once given some awfully vague advice: “The secret to survivin’,” the Gambler told him on a train bound for nowhere, “is knowin’ what to throw away and knowin’ what to keep.” Thanks for that, Gambler, care to elaborate? “You’re got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em.” Yes, Gambler, but how?

The boards of Leicester and Arsenal may have found themselves humming that tune earlier this season when they heard calls to sack their managers. The cries for Brendan Rodgers to be strapped into a train bound for Mutualconsentville never got as loud as the ones aimed at Mikel Arteta but there were mumblings among some fans, nonetheless, that he may have reached the end of the line with Leicester. Giving up the FA Cup by losing 4-1 to Nottingham Forest in February was a low point from which it was hard to return. But Leicester, like Arsenal, knew what not to throw away and as the clubs prepare to meet at the Emirates on Sunday, each can be satisfied that they are now stronger.

On Friday, Rodgers praised Arsenal for sticking with Arteta but he could easily have been talking about himself and Leicester when he said: “They supported him, which is great. He’s a really gifted coach and they’ve shown patience.” Rodgers has earned patience during his term at Leicester and he has now got his team into a state where they could do the reverse of the last two campaigns by ending strongly.

Most of Leicester’s problems have been caused by injuries. Those are starting to abate at last, with even the brilliant young centre-back Wesley Fofana scheduled to make his first appearance of the season next week. Rodgers has suggested that the prospect of the