Arsenal earn dramatic Leicester win to take advantage of Man City slip - 5 talking points
Arsenal 4-2 Leicester City: Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard goals looked to be enough to earn Mikel Arteta's side victory at the Emirates but James Justin had other plans
by Scott Trotter · The MirrorArsenal sealed a dramatic late win against Leicester City thanks to stoppage time goals from Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz.
The victory sees the Gunners capitalise on Manchester City's slip-up against Newcastle to join them at the top of the Premier League. The Gunners were in dreamland and coasting at half-time but James Justin's brace almost foiled Mikel Arteta's men who salvaged three points at the death.
After squandering an earlier chance, Gabriel Martinelli had opened the scoring when he converted with a first-time finish from Jurrien Timber's low cross into the box. It was the Brazilian who then turned provider in first-half stoppage time as Leandro Trossard placed the ball past Mads Hermansen.
Arsenal received a shock when James Justin's header deflected off Havertz to wrongfoot David Raya within two minutes of the restart. But Justin needed no help after 63 mintues when he perfectly hit a volley to level the scores and change the momentum of the game.
Trossard's late poke in deflected off Wilfried Ndidi to break Leciester hearts at the death. Havertz then rounded of the scoring to deliver a final blow and spark relief and jubliation in equal measure around the Emirates.
Leicester City nearly vindicate Cooper
The Foxes had claimed just three points in their opening five matches of Premier League action and without a win, pressure was already building. Upcoming games against Bournemouth, Southampton, Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town were already looking pivotal.
Nevertheless, Steve Cooper did not write off his side's chances coming into the game and had ambitions of a win.
“I don’t think you can go into games thinking they are top of the league so let’s just get through it, we need to go in with the intention we can win the game, and that’s what we want to do on the weekend," said ahead of the trip to north London.
"Is there a gulf? Some people may say that but it doesn’t mean a game can be won or lost. We’d love to go to Arsenal on the weekend and get a result and we have to back ourselves to do that."
A gulf was present on Saturday afternoon and even Cooper would have to accept that despite a game performance. That did not always matter however.
Arsenal dominated the opening half but when they took their foot off the gas, Leicester were there to make them pay in the second period.
Regardless of the mentality heading into the Arsenal fixtures, matches against the teams around them may take on greater importance and they should take that confidence forward.
Man City response and redemption
There was a cheer at the Emirates when the final result from Manchester City's draw against Newcastle was read across the tannoy. Arsenal will hope to win every game regardless of result, but when just one point separated the teams last year, it's impossible to think that earning two more would not feel signicant.
Trossard too will be relieved to have made a much more positive contribution in first half stoppage time. After being shown red against City, the Belgian provided a smart finish ahead of half-time.
Martinelli too will have felt a sense of redemption with his strike to bring an end to a 17-match stretch without a goal after last netting in March.
Missing Martin Odegaard?
The answer is of course, yes. It took Arsenal 15 minutes to find their way through Leicester to generate a shot on goal and it looked as though it could be a difficult afternoon.
Where Manchester City had a Rodri-shaped hole against Newcastle, Arsenal were soon able to forget about Odegaard's absence as the likes of Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice started to pull the strings. Arsenal were adamant on providing cross from wide with Saka, Martinelli and Timber all providing quality from out wide and two goals resulted from it.
The second period perhaps showed they missed their captain however. The north London side continued to come forward but left space in the centre of the field for Leicester to capitalise upon and work their way back into the game when Arsenal required control
The Gunners claimed three points and Arteta is another week closer to the return of Odegaard and Mikel Merino.
Leicester complaints
Jamie Vardy and his manager were both left furious following Arsenal's opening goal. Each received a yellow card as they vented their complaints to Samuel Barrott.
It's not long since Cooper took to a press conference to vent his frustartion about VAR when Jean-Philippe Mateta's goal was allowed to stand against his side. The ex-Swansea boss may have some words about this one too.
Ahead of Arsenal's opening strike, Vardy put pressure on William Saliba and placed his body between the ball and the Frenchman. The defender then appeared to lightly pull on the forward's shoulder to see the Gunners claim possession.
No blow of the referee's whistle or intervention from VAR followed to leave the Foxes fuming.
Game-changing save... almost
Leicester goalkeeper looked to have thrown away his side's hard work. Attempting to play out from the back the 24-year-old missed his mark and could only find Declan Rice.
The Gunners midfielder slotted the ball in for Trossard 12 yards out. The goal was waiting. The Danish international's arm came swatting through the air to deny the former Brighton star. Remarkable save.
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