Resurgent Arsenal dismantle shamble Leicester 2-0

Arsenal extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to nine matches as they defeated Leicester City 2-0 away from home.

Leicester are without a clean sheet since the opening game of the Premier League (PL) season, and their defensive frailties were exposed early on. In fact, it took less than five minutes for Arsenal to open the scoring as Gabriel headed in Bukayo Saka’s corner. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Thomas Partey both tested Kasper Schmeichel before the Denmark international was beaten for a second time.

 A quick counter-attack involving Saka and Alexandre Lacazette forced the ‘Foxes’ back and, as the hosts’ defence dithered in their own box, Emile Smith Rowe pounced with a tidy finish. 

Leicester, however, did threaten in their attempts to get back into the game, but Aaron Ramsdale produced a wonderful fingertip save to thwart Kelechi Iheanacho, while an equally impressive stop kept out a James Maddison free-kick before Jonny Evans’ follow-in effort somehow stayed out.

2-0 behind at the interval, the onus was on Leicester to come out and attack, and they did just that. A harmless Harvey Barnes effort was followed by a far more dangerous one from Luke Thomas, but his effort trickled agonisingly wide of the post. 

Then, Ramsdale was called upon twice more, equal to shots from substitute Ademola Lookman and Barnes. Midway through the second half, it was Schmeichel’s turn to save his side as he kept out a close-range Aubameyang effort. In response, Leicester pushed forward, but Arsenal stood firm for a fourth league clean sheet of the term as the clear-cut chances dried up.

Mikel Arteta’s men have now won on their last three visits to the King Power Stadium, and this victory sees them move up to fifth in the PL table. After a poor start to the campaign, the North-London outfit appear to have found their groove. Meanwhile, Leicester move down to 10th and could even drop out of the top half depending on other results this weekend.