On a beautiful, soft, sunny day at King Power Stadium, it was Arsenal’s troubadours in the Europa League who seemed to have been touched by the breath of spring. After six minutes, Arsenal dominated possession, scored three times before the hour and looked good value for a 3-1 win against an exhausted Leicester City team.
Much of the development of this game has focused on status. Is there such a thing as the “big six” in Stenosing football and, if so, how do we measure it? Finance? Expectation? Real league positions? At the start of the game, Leicester had 12 points and a six-point lead over the visitors. Full time, it was difficult to avoid the feeling that Arsenal
a greater depth of the cast had taken the day, that the quality of their substitutes, especially Nicolas Pépé, was simply too much.
Mikel Arteta made six changes, with Cédric Soares and Pablo Marí entering the defense, and Willian, Pépé and Alexandre Lacazette entering the field. Bukayo Saka, without a doubt, needed a break after recent efforts.
Pépé took the chance brilliantly, with a performance so convincing that 10 minutes after the break he was already involved in two Arsenal penalty shootouts (an off VAR), won the free kick that led to Arsenal’s first goal and forced the replacement of young Leicester left-back Luke Thomas, who simply could not stand the movement and direct running of Pépé.
Leicester City moved to a 4-4-2 for this game, which may have been a response to the best available staff. Kelechi Iheanacho playing close to Jamie Vardy in the attack. Perhaps the change of shape was a little push to get a little more out of Leicester’s main man. In that case, it didn’t work. Vardy was a ghost for long periods. He is 34 years old and has played more or less constantly for six years. He seemed concerned here.
Arsenal started well, keeping the ball very well, until the moment when Leicester made the first attack of the game and scored a brilliant goal. It came from the right flank. Iheanacho held the ball with his back to the goal. Youri Tielemans took a smart run out of him, slid away from Kieran Tierney’s lunge and kept going, reaching the right edge of the area cleared by David Luiz and Marí, who seemed content to admire this beautiful figure walking in the sun at lunchtime .
The kick in motion was low and strong and perfectly placed, passing Bernd Leno’s right hand. There is something almost old-fashioned in a central midfielder who can jump from the field to score regularly. It helps when the opposition offers you the defensive equivalent of a welcome basket and a round of polite applause.
Arsenal did not deflate, with the help – although the jury may also be out of it – by Arteta’s constant barks, howls and squeals from the sideline. This is a coach who loves nothing more than “calling” every move, appearing every few moments as the elegantly dressed father-coach of the local U-11 champions.
His players responded and, six minutes later, looked ready to draw, with Pépé being knocked down in the area. A penalty was granted, but the VAR dismissed it. Wilfred Ndidi had made contact outside the area.
The dominated Arsenal found some inroads on the left, due to Tierney’s willingness to go outside. Willian switched flanks for a while and got involved in a move that spread the ball to Tierney in an open green space. His crossing was met with a foot scratch.
Seven minutes before the interval Pépé was fouled for the fourth time. Thomas was booked. Willian charged a strong and flat foul and David Luiz scored with a wonderful header, running in front of a static Leicester defense and twisted his neck to look the ball into the corner.
Emile Smith Rowe left, replaced by Martin
Ødegaard. And Arsenal had time to take advantage of yet another penalty kick, this time from VAR. Ndidi blocked a kick with his hands raised awkwardly. Screen check was mercifully short. Lacazette hit the ball in the corner. Arsenal deserved nothing less, having led the game almost alone since Leicester’s goal.
Brendan Rodgers reacted at halftime, taking out Thomas and bringing in Mark Albrighton. Harvey Barnes left the field with what appeared to be a serious injury.
The Fiver: sign up and receive our daily football email
Arsenal went 3-1 on 52 minutes with a beautiful goal scored by Pépé. This time, he dribbled inside, passed to Willian on the left, saw the ball deflected into the six-yard area, while Willian dodged a joint challenge from Kasper Schmeichel and Timonthy Castagne, and was there to hit the ball.
Deprived now of two members of a weakened team, Leicester looked a little lost. There has been something genuinely impressive about Leicester’s ability to function due to the absence of important players. Here, they looked tired and a little crappy.
Leicester pressed hard until the end. But the midweek expulsion from Europe seems to be a blessing for his hopes in the Premier League. Arsenal will be very excited about a beautiful away win.