Never in doubt! Arsenal leave it late against Leicester to go joint top
PREMIER LEAGUE
ARSENAL 4 (Martinelli 20, Trossard 44, 94, Havertz 99)
LEICESTER 2 (Justin 47, 73)
AND now you’re going believe us, and now you’re going believe us, and now you’re going believe us: We’re going to win the league!
They left it late, but dramatic injury time goals kept Arsenal firmly in the title race after Manchester City dropped points at Newcastle.
This was far from the straight forward home victory against newly promoted Leicester that everyone had been predicting, despite a first half of complete dominance.
The visitors rallied in the second half, with a goal of the month contender from James Justin and a series of heroic saves from keeper Mads Hermansen.
It took a deflected strike from Leo Trossard, stabbed in at the back post, and a VAR overruled offside Kai Havertz goal to seal the win.
If it feels like there’s been a revolution at Arsenal in recent years, think about being a Leicester fan.
It doesn’t seem so long ago that Arsenal were trying to buy Jamie Vardy from the Premier League champions, now newly promoted and fighting for survival.
Gabi Martinelli feathered in the opener from a cut back pass from Jurien Timber.
You could see the relief in his face after a barren run of form, and having skied a decent chance a few minutes earlier
Timber, playing right back with Ben White unavailable, was arguably Arsenal’s best player.
Able to play right or left back, he is surely a guaranteed starter now.
Martinelli turned provider just before half time after he picked out Trossard, who made a difficult finish look easy to make it 2-0.
Once again, the players celebrations with the pint-sized midfielder seemed a little awkward.
Against all expectations, Leicester scored just after the restart after Justin’s header from a freekick was deflected in by Kai Havertz.
There was nothing David Raya could do but the goal came as quite a shock after a laid back first half without any goal threat from the visitors.
Gabriel had a header from a corner saved and keeper Hermansen got back up well to block Califiori’s follow up – the first of a series of incredible stops by the Leicester Number 1.
The atmosphere turned edgy.
Bukayo Saka hit the side netting and a Trossard half volley cracked the outside of the post.
Teenager Buonanotte had about three decent chances before Justin arced in an outrageous volleyed equaliser on the hour mark.
It was a sensational finish, a bit like the first deflected goal in that there was not much keeper Raya could do.
Havertz had a shot from point blank range saved by keeper Hermansen before going down a bit too easily in the box in a penalty appeal waved away by the referee.
Riccardo Caliafiori arguably should have got a second yellow after his foul prevented a Leicester attack.
Hermansen pulled off another stunning save after Trossard was gifted a gilt edged chance in the box, and then another from a Califiori back post header that looked a certain goal.
Arsenal rained down at the death with Nwaneri and Sterling looking lively in a late cameo.
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Califiori, Rice, Partey (Nwaneri 84), Trossard (Jesus 98), Saka, Martinelli (Sterling 74).
Subs not used: Jorginho, Kacurri, Kiwior, Skelly, Neto, Nichols
Leicester: Hermansen, Faes, Okou (Fatawu 98), Ndidi (Edouard 98), Winks, Vardy, Mavdidi (Reid 88), Kristiansen Skipp (Khannous 88), Buonanotte (Ayew)
Subs not used: Pereira, Coady, Choudhury, Ward
