Taylor: We won't wobble at Highbury

Peter Taylor must have known that there would be a few knives out for him this season but even he was surprised when the "Taylor out" chants began halfway through their opening Premiership match against Bolton.

Admittedly, Leicester were 4-0 down and the fans had every right to feel disgruntled but Taylor said today: "I was disappointed when I heard the chants. It wasn't helpful to the team, never mind about me."

Following that 5-0 defeat at Filbert Street Taylor is the favourite to become the first Premiership manager to lose his job this season.

He knows that another heavy defeat at Highbury tomorrow will shorten his survival odds.

The former England coach admitted: "I know they don't come much tougher than Arsenal but I'm expecting a better performance than that against Bolton.

"That was nowhere near good enough.

"The players are with me, though. They have all been in to see me and apologise. They're determined there will be no repeat against Arsenal."

Taylor will again be without suspended former Tottenham goalkeeper Ian Walker and new signing James Scowcroft is still struggling with a thigh injury but he said: "Let's give the new players a chance.

"Dennis Wise, for example, has been a different class since he joined us but even he was a bit down after last Saturday.

"These players have character, though, and I am confident that they can bounce back quickly from the disappointment of that Bolton defeat."

He added: "We know that Arsenal are a class act.

"I had them watched against Leeds in midweek and I am under no illusions that they will be very determined to make up some lost ground after that defeat.

"People will recall our bad run towards the end of the season and we will be under scrutiny. I know that.

"I am not making excuses, but we suffered a run of injuries and had we won just three of our last dozen games we would have finished eighth.

"The table doesn't lie, however, and I know only too well that we will need to start picking up points soon if we are going to quieten our critics.

"I'm hoping the Bolton game was a one-off.

"We didn't play that badly at times but individual defensive errors cost us dearly and we finished the game shell-shocked.

"Even the best teams have a wobble at times, though, Arsenal included."