Arsenal vs. Leicester City result: Gunners fire themselves into top four with win over Foxes

Will Savage

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Arsenal vs. Leicester City result: Gunners fire themselves into top four with win over Foxes image

Arsenal went into this match knowing a win would put them back in the top four. If they were feeling any pressure, they didn't show it. The Gunner started well, and imposed themselves on the game in the opening minutes. While Leicester attempted an aggressive approach with their pressing, Arsenal created numerous chances, and it wasn't long before they took the lead.

A Gabriel Martinelli corner found Thomas Partey who had from the far post, and the midfielder lost his man to find himself in space on the edge of the six yard area. It was a simple finish as he nodded the ball into the goal. Leicester have the worst record at defending corners in the league, and it was easy to see why.

After the goal, it looked like Arsenal might run away with the game as they got into dangerous positions repeatedly, and Leicester were knocked back. A Thomas Partey shot after a promising attack hit the woodwork. Leicester began to grow into the game, however. Harvey Barnes was involved repeatedly, as Brendad Rodgers' side seemed to be targetting Cedric Soares in the first half.

Dewsbury-Hall also looked good at times for the visitors, who dominated the ball in the closing stages of the half. Arsenal lost their rhythm after a stoppage in play half an hour in, and didn't recover it until the second half.

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Arsenal came out after half time aggressively, looking to put the game to bed. Although Leicester looked to attack when they could, impressive performances from Partey and Odegaard meant Arsenal were able to get the ball forward with regularity. They were rewarded for their effort with a penalty, after Soyuncu handballed a Partey headed which was cleared off the line.

Lacazette made no mistake from the spot, and doubled the lead for the hosts. While Leicester continued to create dangerous moments, they weren't able to trouble Arsenal on a consistent basis, and by the end of the game they were comfortably second best. It was a professional day at the office for Mikel Arteta's side, who will be full of confidence ahead of the visit of Liverpool on Wednesday.

Arsenal vs. Leicester City final score

  1H 2H Final
Arsenal 1 2 2
Leicester City 0 0 0

Goals:

ARSENAL — Lacazete — 59th min.

ARSENAL — Partey (Martinelli) — 11th min.

(All times Eastern)

Final: Arsenal 2, Leicester 0

FULLTIME: That's all from Emirates Stadium, as Anthony Taylor blows the final whistle. A professional performance from the hosts. Leicester troubled them at times, but over the course of the match they were comfortably second best.

93rd min: Five minutes of added time, as Martin Odegaard is named man of the match. The Norwegian feels like he's growing into his responsibility at the club with every game. Leicester come forward again. They've struggled to really get through Arsenal but Dewsbury-Hall creates danger. He crosses from the left, just outside the area. It's blocked, but he followed the cross and is on hand to fire the loose ball towards goal. It deflects into the air and Aaron Ramsdale claims it. He's down for a moment, having taken a blow from Daka when he did so. Leicester continue to push.

87th min: Leicester are still trying, but they've only really troubled Arsenal a few times during the game. Lacazette goes off to a good reception from the fans, with Nketiah on in his place. With Liverpool visiting on Wednesday, Mikel Arteta will be happy to bring off his three forwards for a few minutes rest.

85th min: The Arsenal crowd sign oles as Arsenal pass through the Leicester press. Great work from Partey and Odegaard, who have both been excellent today, with Lacazette involved. Bukayo Saka is off for Nicolas Pepe.

83rd min: Leicester give the ball to Odegaard in their own third, who plays it left to Xhaka. He slips Smith-Rowe through, and he tries to place it from a tight angle. Schmeichel saves.

82nd min: Arsenal win the ball in Leicester's half and Saka looks to break, but he's caught by Daka. Arsenal have a free kick in the right halfspace, thirty yards from the goal line. Cedric takes, the first ball is up in the air. Emile Smith-Rowe guide it back to Saka, in a central area, whose shot is blocked.

79th min: Arsenal break forward again, this time Xhaka shoots over from twenty yards out.

77th min: Emilie Smith-Rowe is ready to come on, to the excitement of the home fans who sing his name. Leicester haven't given up here, but Arsenal don't look too uncomfortable. Martinelli comes off, in a straight swap, with Smith-Rowe heading out to the left.

74th min: Arsenal are seeing most of the ball again, and are managing to take some of the sting out of the game here. Odegaard and Martinelli link up well in the Leicester area, but it comes to nothing. Moments later, Cedric is played in by Saka, and his left footed shot is blocked. Appeals for handball, which VAR is looking at. The ball goes out to Martinelli on the left who once again drives in along the byline. His cut back is cleared before it gets to Martin Odegaard.

72nd min: Bukayo Saka is down temporarily, but gets back to his feet. Ihenacho has a shot from distance, but it's comfortable for Ramsdale.

70th min: Ihenacho, who was booked earlier for catching Gabriel in the face, gives away a free kick on the halfway line by elbowing White in the face when tussling for a header.

69th min: Leicester are moving the ball around comfortably, as Barnes looks to find Ihenacho once again in the area, but Gabriel is alert to the danger, and holds off the attacker to allow the ball to run through to Ramsdale. Arteta is telling his side to slow things down on the touchline.

67th min: Leicester go close! Good work from Barnes down the left, who finds Kelechi in the area. Gabriel is across to tackle and the ball almost breaks to Barnes one on one with Ramsdale, but Kieran Tierney is alert to the danger, and clears.

65th min: It's end to end once again. Arsenal have a promising counter as Martinelli is played into space. He comes inside and plays the ball square to Saka. He tries to link up with Lacazette, but the pass is intercepted. Leicester have a counter of their own, but they can't create anything from it.

63rd min: It's a double change from Leicester in response to the goal. James Justin is on for Ricardo, presumably to try and stifle the threat of Martinelli, while Ndidi comes on for Mendy. Leicester press, and win the ball high up, but Arsenal get it clear.

59th min: GOAL! Lacazette's previous penalties have all been low to the 'keeper's left. This time it's high to Schmeichel's left, and into the top corner. Arsenal's lead is doubled. Schmeichel is protesting, as Lacazette stuttered slightly during his run up, but his protests fall on deaf ears.

57th min: Penalty! Anthony Taylor trotted across to have a look, and the angle of the replay showed that Soyuncu clearly handled the ball. The defender is booked, and Thomas' presence on the goal line probably stopped it being a straight red. Lacazette will take the penalty.

55th min: It's all happened. Odegaard's flat ball in finds Lacazette, whose shot is blocked. The follow up is saved acrobatically by Schmeichel, and Partey's header from close range is cleared off the line. Arsenal appeal for a penalty as Soyuncu's hand was in proximity to the ball as Partey headed it, and VAR is taking a long look.

53rd min: Arsenal are in the ascendancy, with Martinelli involved again. He links up with Xhaka as Arsenal work it down the left, before winning a free kick high on the left wing, after being caught in a Leicester sandwich.

52nd min: A more even start to the second half, with both teams looking dangerous. Arsenal attack and it's excellent work from Martinelli on the left, after being set on his way by Lacazette, to get to the byline past Pereira and keep the ball in, driving towards goal before setting up Lacazette, whose shot is blocked. Saka's acrobatic effort during the next phase of play is saved by Schmeichel.

48th min: We're back underway at Emirates Stadium. Arsenal have a kick on the right in Leicester's half, but it's played short and worked centrally. Odegaard's initial ball in is cleared, but Tierney crosses to the penalty spot from the left and Ben White's flicked finish is wide of the near post.

HALFTIME: Arsenal started well, and found their groove early on, but Leicester came back into the game and had the better of proceedings in the left fifteen minutes of the half. Mikel Arteta will be happy to hear the referee's whistle, he'll want to see more from his side in the second half.

45th min: Arsenal finally get a spell on the ball, with the help of Odegaard dropping deep. He combines with Saka, who is fouled, and there are ironic cheers as the referee gives the home side a free kick. Arsenal attack, but the move peters out for a goal kick. One minute of added time.

43rd min: Arsenal break up a Leicester attack and look to counter. Lacazette recieves the ball centrally in his own half and looks to turn away from pressure, but he leaves the ball behind. He gives away a foul when trying to win it back, and Leicester have a free kick. It's taken from deep and finds Soyuncu in the penalty area, to the left of goal. He can't do much with the ball other than lift it high over Ramsdale's bar, but Leicester are continuing to threaten and, since the stoppage half an hour in, Arsenal haven't really found their rhythm.

39th min: Leicester work the ball forward, and the visitors have dominated possession for the last few minutes. A teasing Maddison cross is headed behind by Cedric with Barnes lurking.

37th min: Leicester have a few corners in quick succession. The first comes to nothing, as a short corner routine ends with Maddison hitting the first man. The second sees Albrighton cross from a deeper angle, Barnes' header forcing a save from Ramsdale. The third is caught by Ramsdale, but Leicester have the ball again.

34th min: The tempo has slowed a little after the stoppage in play, and Leicester have taken the opportunity to move the ball around a little.

29th min: Kieran Tierney cuts inside from the left, and the ball is worked out to Bukayo Saka who shoots into a crowd of bodies. That's followed by a Lacazette shot from distance which is comfortable for Schmeichel. Gabriel is down holding his head, and Ihenacho is booked for, it seems, accidentally hitting him in the face off the ball.

27th min: It's end to end stuff now! Leicester get into a dangerous area again, and Ramsdale pushes a ball from Leicester's left into a central area. Arsenal throw bodies in the way of James Maddison, and it's a perfectly measured sliding tackle from White that takes the ball away from him with the goal gaping. Arsenal counter and have a four on four, the ball working out to Martinelli on the left who cuts inside, his shot blocked.

25th min: Aaron Ramsdale is forced into action. Dewsbury-Hall plays an impressive pass into Barnes, who runs off Cedric far too easily. He's left with a finish from a tight angle and the Arsenal 'keeper is out quickly to smother the chance. The resulting Leicester corner comes to nothing, but that's better from the visitors.

23rd min: Saka drives towards a crowd of Leicester bodies after losing Thomas with ease. He's sandwiched between Soyuncu and Mendy, and the crowd appeals for a penalty but play continues. The ball breaks to Martinelli, who cuts in onto his right, but he can't get the power behind his effort, and it's an easy save for Schmeichel. Leicester finally get the ball into Arsenal's area, but it's an easy catch for Aaron Ramsdale as the cross is too close to his goal.

19th min: Leicester are lucky to have survived. Arsenal play their way through the Leicester press, and it ends with Saka playing in Cedric on the overlap. His pass back finds Lacazette in the middle of a crowd of bodies, he lays it off to Saka, who squares to Xhaka. His shots is blocked by comes to Partey, who goes for his second goal. his cultured effort finds the angle of post and bar, before Arsenal put the ball out with a Leicester player down. The visitors are yet to get the ball into Arsenal's penalty area.

15th min: Arsenal press and win the ball high up, but it's out for a goal kick as Xhaka, Martinelli, and Lacazette aren't on the same wavelength. Martinelli runs in behind Ricardo and makes a nuisance of himself again. The flag goes up again.

11th min: GOAL!

It's been coming! Leicester are the worst team at defending corners in the league, and Arsenal are one of the best at converting them. Martinellie's flat, whipped delivery finds Partey, on the near corner of the six yard area. He's lost his marker and, in space, he's left with a simple header to put the Gunners a goal up.

10th min: Saka gets on the end of a long ball and comes inside. He plays a 1-2 with Odegaard before shooting from the edge of the area. It's blocked, but it's one way traffic at the moment. Arsenal win a corner on the left.

9th min: Arsenal seeing a little more of the ball now. A Tierney ball into the area sees Martinelli run in behind Ricardo Pereira, but the Portuguese defender outmuscles the attacker. Arsenal appeal for a penalty, but the appeals are half hearted and Anthony Taylor isn't giving anything. Arsenal are finding their groove now. Odegaard lifts a ball into the path of Martinelli, who finds space in the area between Ricardo and Soyuncu. Schmeichel has to make himself big with the Brazilian one on one, but Martinelli is flagged offside anyway.

4th min: It's a good start from both sides, Leicester have come to cause a problem for the hosts with their approach. Lacazette does well to get on the end of a long ball when Amartey looked to have the situation under control, but the forward isn't back in position for Saka's reverse pass into the area.

2nd min: Arsenal go long from the kick off as the few latecomers take their seats in the stand. The atmosphere is good. Leicester are pressing high up early on, which will hopefully lead to an exciting game.

12:28 pm: The teams are out and lining up for the kick off in North London, which is just moments away.

12:16 pm: An interesting comparison from the visiting team's twitter account. Arsenal's Norwegian midfielder has kept everything ticking in the Gunners attack in recent weeks, but James Maddison was seen by many as a possible option for the North London side if they didn't get their man. The two go head to head today, and whoever maange to stamp their authority on the game will give their team a big boost.

11:32 am: Well, the earlier report was only half right. Lineups are in, and Smith Rowe does not start, but does make the bench. Leicester City has a heaping of players missing out due to injury, including Jamie Vardy, while Youri Tielemans and Wilfred Ndidi are on the bench.

11:22 am: Team news is imminent, but initial word from the Emirates is Emile Smith Rowe has not proven fit to take part, a miss for an otherwise healthy Arsenal side.

10:45 am: Arsenal is one of the most in-form teams in the Premier League, with the Gunners taking firm control of the push for the final Champions League place. And still, there is no room for error.

10:30 am: Good afternoon and welcome to Sporting News' live coverage of the Premier League fixture between Arsenal and Leicester City. This will be another crucial match in the race to finish in the top four this season!

Arsenal hope for a repeat of last time out against the Foxes, when the Gunners won 2-0 thanks to goals from Gabriel and Emile Smith Rowe, although a key save by Aaron Ramsdale helped preserve the victory.

Arsenal vs. Leicester City lineups

It's good news for Mikel Arteta, as he has almost his whole squad available to him. Takehiro Tomiyasu is the only player who is expected to be unavailable, with the Japanese defender still working his way back from a calf injury.

Arsenal's squad is strengthened by Emile Smith Rowe's return to full training, after missing their previous match at Watford with COVID-19. Without European cup competitions to worry about, Arteta hasn't had much need to rotate heavily, and that's likely to be the case in this game too, with Arsenal's starting lineup fairly consistent.

Arsenal lineup (4-2-3-1, left to right) Ramsdale (GK) — Tierney, Gabriel, White, Cedric — Xhaka, Partey — Martinelli, Odegaard, Saka — Lacazette.

As for the visitors, the list of absences begins in attack with talismanic forward Jamie Vardy out for weeks with a knee injury. That will be offset by the return of regular center back Wesley Fofana who has been working his way back from a broken leg. A return to selection was pencilled in for the Thursday game against Rennes, but that didn't happen after he tested positive for COVID-19.

Even with Fofana, Leicester will be a little light at the back: Jonny Evans (thigh), Ryan Bertrand (knee) and Timothy Castagne are all out. Ricardo Pereira's involvement is also uncertain following a thigh injury, meaning James Justin and Luke Thomas may be the starting full backs for Leicester.

Leicester lineup (4-3-3, left to right): Schmeichel (GK) — Thomas, Soyuncu, Amartey, Ricardo — Dewsbury-Hall, Mendy, Maddison — Barnes, Iheanacho, Albrighton.

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Will Savage