Arsenal closed the gap on league leaders Leicester City to
two points on Sunday afternoon, after the returning Danny Welbeck scored a
last-gasp header to earn a 2-1 win at the Emirates.
Leicester had fought hard 'til the death and had taken the
lead through Jamie Vardy's first half penalty, but Danny Simpson's red card
after the break proved a turning point. Theo Walcott struck an equaliser before
Welbeck popped up with virtually the last action of the game to earn three
points.
The home side started the day five points behind Claudio
Ranieri's Foxes, who sat clear at the top after last weekend's win at
Manchester City. Their attempts to catch the visitors cold nearly paid dividends,
but Alexis Sanchez could only divert a header wide of the post after good work
by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Arsenal took over in the possession stakes for most of the
first half, but that's something Leicester will have been expecting. Much like
last week, they proved difficult to break down and potent on the break, and
their high pressing game really caught the eye. N'Golo Kante and Danny
Drinkwater in particular shone for their drive, energy and commitment.
Kante was quite literally everywhere. Having taken 47 first
half touches, he proved a thorn in Arsenal's side and Leicester's main weapon
to combat Arsenal's intricate play. The goalkeepers at both ends played their
own parts when called into action, and visiting captain Wes Morgan remained solid
as a rock too - making a number of crucial blocks and interceptions.
The first goal of the game, however, came on the stroke of
half time. Unsurprisingly, Kante was involved in the build up, beating Laurent
Koscielny (who was then replaced at the interval) to the ball in the Arsenal
half. He powered forward and found Vardy, who was then tripped in the area by
Nacho Monreal. The decision was clear, and Vardy smashed the ball home to give
Leicester a half time lead.
Riyad Mahrez nearly earned another penalty out of the
Spaniard early in the second half, but just minutes later Simpson picked
up two bookings in quick succession - and found himself sent off with the
better part of 35 minutes to go. Considering Arsenal were already cranking up
the pressure, this was to prove Leicester's acid test.
Ranieri switched things around and left Vardy to fend for
himself up front, but after the red card it was one way traffic in the other
direction. Arsenal spent most of the rest of the game in Leicester's final
third, and after waves of pressure the Gunners finally earned their equaliser
with twenty minutes to play.
Substitute Theo Walcott grabbed the goal after turning in a
brilliantly cushioned header from Olivier Giroud, but there was no time to
celebrate. Arsenal wanted the victory and continued to test
Leicester's mettle. Per Mertesacker and Aaron Ramsey flashed
good chances wide, while the returning Danny Welbeck was unable to find the
breakthrough as Kasper Schmeichel stood firm.
He was called into action with two minutes to go, and made
the finest save of the lot to deny Giroud from point-blank range. It had looked
as though Leicester had done enough to earn a point, but the returning Welbeck
popped up to meet Ozil's cross and send the Emirates into hysterics.
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