Arsenal back in fourth after a strong showing against Leicester

 

Thomas Partey celebrates after heading Arsenal in front against Leicester on Sunday. It ended 2-0 to the Arsenal. (Photo credit: GOAL)

Arsenal returned to fourth spot on the premier league table after a brilliant Sunday evening at the Emirates against Leicester City.

The Gunners had slipped down to sixth on the log after Manchester United beat Tottenham on Saturday and Westham bested Aston Villa in the London Stadium sunshine, it was a must-win for the Gunners in the context of the top four conversations.

Mikel Arteta stuck to his guns and returned the same eleven that beat Watford at the Vicarage Road last week while Brendan Rodgers made four changes to his side, including the first start for Nampalys Mendy in eighteen months.

The Gunners were quick to business and it didn’t take long for Thomas Partey to head home the first goal of the day from a Gabriel Martinelli corner. Set piece again undone Leicester as it has been all season long.

Arsenal dominated the opening exchanges up until after the half hour mark before the visitors started growing into the game. Leicester thought they had gotten the lead when James Maddison looked set to shoot right inside the Arsenal area but a fine Ben White block ended that dream.

Aaron Ramsdale saved brilliantly from Harvey Barnes, it was destined for the top corner but the young goalkeeper found a way to claw it to safety to end the half with Arsenal’s advantage.

Arsenal controlled the second half better, although the visitors saw more of the ball, it was the Gunners that had the most clear cut chances and eventually made it two when Caglar Soyuncu handled the ball in the area and VAR called it back for a penalty.

Alexander Lacazette had gone nine games without a goal, he ended the drought from the spot as the Gunners repeated the first leg score line to complete a double against Leicester for the first time since the Foxes won the league in the 2015/16 season.

Arsenal are now a point above Manchester United and still have three games on the Red Devils, top four is increasingly likely for the Gunners amidst the confusion among the chasing pack. Arsenal's next game is on Wednesday against Liverpool at the Emirates.

"I look at the table with the games that we have remaining, I know where we are but we have to look forward," he said after the match. "We have to look at what we do, focus on our performances and prepare for the next match and that's it. The rest is just ... we are going to be guessing. I am not a great gambler; I have never been and I don't want to gamble now” – Mikel Arteta.