A Premier League match that provided drama right until the final whistle saw Arsenal and Leicester City share the spoils at a buzzing Emirates Stadium. Leandro Trossard returned from suspension to be the hero of the day, his stoppage time wizardry saw Arsenal remain within touching distance of Manchester City at the top after an exhilarating 4-2 win over Leicester.
Dominant First Half for Arsenal
Gabriel Martinelli scores a beauty Arsenal fans had been waiting 208 days for Gabriel Martinelli to score, and the Brazilian ended his 19-game goal drought with a lovely strike in the 20th minute. His finish was calm, finding the far corner with accuracy on 59 minutes. The Emirates went wild and the Arsenal of old seemed to be back in business in London.
Mikel Arteta’s side completely bossed the first half, dominated possession and crafted several openings. Brimming with confidence, Martinelli was not finished there. He also played creator, providing a sumptuous assist for Leandro Trossard just before half-time. It was a powerful strike with Kunzawa standing little chance in the Toulouse goal as he made it 2-0 to Arsenal.
Leicester’s Fightback Shocks Arsenal
Leicester City had been completely outplayed in the first 45 minutes but emerged a team reborn for part two. To the disbelief of home supporters, though, the Foxes rallied back into the contest thanks largely to James Justin. It all started when Justin headed the ball from a corner to score from close range after his effort had deflected off Kai Havertz as there was no stopping this time, 2-1. It both changed the flow of the game, and forced Arsenal on to the back foot having been dominant.
Several minutes later, Justin gave us what is already being called the magic moment of the year. Very reminiscent of Benjamin Pavard’s iconic strike in the 2018 World Cup, his thunderous volley from outside the box leveled the scores as Leicester were now at 2-2. The place went deathly quiet, the room felt like one of a bunch of schoolkids enjoying some sort of shock silly bedtime and Leicester looked set to nick a point behind Arsenal’s back.
Trossard’s Heroics and Arsenal’s Late Drama
With the game level, Arsenal pushed hard to find a winner. Leicester’s goalkeeper, Mads Hermansen, was in inspired form, pulling off save after save to deny Arsenal a third goal. But just as the match seemed destined for a draw, the hero of the day, Leandro Trossard, stepped up.
In the 94th minute, Trossard delivered a dangerous ball across the box, forcing Wilfred Ndidi into an unfortunate own goal. The Emirates erupted in celebration as the Gunners took a 3-2 lead in stoppage time.
But the drama wasn’t over. Arsenal’s Kai Havertz, who had a largely frustrating afternoon, was gifted a chance to add a fourth goal, which he converted, putting the game to bed. Despite his struggles during the game, Havertz’s goal sealed the victory and allowed Arsenal to breathe a sigh of relief.
Player Ratings
Aaron Ramsdale (6/10):
Made some solid saves early on but had little chance with either of Leicester’s goals.
Ben White (7/10):
Was solid in defense and contributed to Arsenal’s attacking play, making overlapping runs.
William Saliba (6/10):
Not his best performance, as he struggled to deal with Leicester’s second-half surge.
Gabriel Magalhães (7/10):
Was commanding in the air but could have done more to stop Justin’s first goal.
Oleksandr Zinchenko (6.5/10):
Was effective in the first half but found himself out of position during Leicester’s comeback.
Thomas Partey (6.5/10):
Controlled the midfield in the first half but was overrun as Leicester found their rhythm in the second half.
Martin Ødegaard (7.5/10):
The captain was influential in creating chances and controlling the tempo in the first half.
Kai Havertz (6/10):
Struggled throughout the match but ultimately got his name on the scoresheet with a late, fortunate goal.
Gabriel Martinelli (8/10):
His goal and assist were crucial in Arsenal’s early dominance. Looked dangerous throughout the game.
Bukayo Saka (7/10):
Was a constant threat down the right wing but couldn’t find the back of the net.
Leandro Trossard (9/10):
The undisputed hero of the night. Scored, assisted, and was involved in everything good Arsenal did.
FAQs
Arsenal won the match 4-2, thanks to two late goals in stoppage time.
Leandro Trossard was the hero, scoring one goal and assisting the decisive own goal by Wilfred Ndidi.
James Justin scored twice for Leicester, including a stunning volley, to bring the game level at 2-2 before Arsenal’s late drama.
Havertz struggled for most of the game but managed to score a late goal to secure the win for Arsenal.
Arsenal will need to address their second-half defensive lapses as they continue their Premier League campaign.
Conclusion: Arsenal Survive but Must Improve
The late drama saw them edge Arsenal into third place on goal difference and, while Gunners fans will be pleased with the outcome, there will also be concern at how their side let Leicester back into it. Although the Gunners did well to hold on for all three points, Mikel Arteta can not take their foot off the gas as his team were guilty of switching in and out of gear after halftime.
Leicester, on the other hand, can take positives from their second-half performance. James Justin’s brilliant display will give Foxes fans hope, despite the final scoreline. But as far as Arsenal are concerned, it’s another three points in the bag as they continue their chase for Premier League glory.
