Arsenal 4 Leicester 2: Trossard and Havertz seal stunning last-minute win to capitalise on Man City’s draw at Newcastle
AFTER a week of “dark arts” accusations, Arsenal were looking for an enlightening performance more aligned with the fine arts.
This was anything but. Instead, a maddening contest with a barmy ending that fans at the Emirates have become accustomed to over the years.
Pep Guardiola issuing a rallying war cry to Mikel Arteta this week as tensions have threatened to boil over between Manchester City and the Gunners following the Battle of the Etihad that ended 2-2 with a 98th-minute equaliser from John Stones.
Arteta’s response?
A 94th-minute own goal from Wilfred Ndidi and a touchline celebration of a crazed lunatic to down Leicester and keep the pressure on City at the top of the league
What a title race this is going to be, on and off the pitch, one that will keep us guessing until the very last with verbal spats and late drama customary.
This one had all the makings of a routine outing for Arsenal, 2-0 up at half-time against a Foxes outfit that are yet to pick up a three-pointer this term.
Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring in the 20th minute and Trossard turned home seconds before the break.
But by the 63rd minute, the visitors were level through two James Justin efforts – the second an absolute peach of a fading volley that stunned North London into silence.
Leicester keeper Mads Hermansen will not have a better match for a long time, making save after save that had Arteta ripping out his perfectly-oiled hair.
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But with seven minutes of added time announced and Arsenal’s set-piece record, there was always belief as Trossard snuck around the back and put the ball into the danger zone and it bounced in off Wilfred Ndidi’s unfortunate leg.
Arteta craves control and composure, but winning this way helps too – the outside noise and criticism of his tactics he hopes will be forgotten amid the pure delight of a last-gasp win.
It also helps to keep 11 men on the pitch as Trossard has learned the hard way after his dismissal at the Etihad cost them in this intriguing fight for the Prem crown.
In another act of defiance over his tactics, Arteta went with the same line-up that earned a point in Manchester with Trossard back from his mid-week one-match suspension.
David Raya shook off a knock he picked up in Manchester to start in goal.
With Ben White still struggling with a groin problem, Jurrien Timber remained at right-back and Riccardo Calafiori kept his place at left-back.
In an attempt to solidify, Steve Cooper brought in Oliver Skipp and Facundo Buonanotte.
Jamie Vardy led the line at the age of 37 against a club he has 11 goals against in the Prem, and despite the hosts’ early dominance, he was gifted an attack from deep by a poor Thomas Partey pass.
Justin was picked out in the box but Calafiori blocked well. That would be Leicester’s one and only touch inside the Arsenal box in the first half.
Instead, the visitors did a lot of defending. Ex-Tottenham midfielder Skipp somehow got away with a risky studs-up lunge on Martinelli.
Arsenal themselves were perhaps still a bit rusty in attack having been in a defensive funk for the past few games, especially without skipper Martin Odegaard to break down a low block.
A mistake from Vardy handed them a golden chance via Bukayo Saka’s pass for Martinelli whose first touch was poor and shot even worse.
Moments later, the Brazilian redeemed himself, making the most of an Arsenal attack that finally had a bit of injected pace as Timber overlapped Saka down the right.
Martinelli’s connection with the pulled-back cross was scuffed but sweetly nestled in the far corner.
Vardy was booked in the aftermath. He felt he was fouled by William Saliba seconds before, but in truth, the ex-England international was simply outmuscled and outthought by the French centre-back.
The Foxes were beginning to wilt under the constant attacking bombardment. Caleb Okoli’s pass out was intercepted but Hermansen stood firm to deny Martinelli.
Kai Havertz then headed just wide from Trossard’s pick-out – but the Belgian then got on the end of Martinelli’s cross just before the break with the simplest of finishes.
It was 2-0, but it could have been more owing to missed chances that Arsenal soon came to rue having just returned to the pitch for the second half.
Saliba’s clumsy foul allowed Buonanotte to whip in a cross into the box and Justin was somehow free to see his header glance off Havertz and past a helpless Raya.
For all of Arsenal’s defensive plaudits this calendar year, this was a real shock to the system.
Arteta was pacing and panting, but his side reacted well, continuing to press, probe and miss a hatful of glorious chances that could have put this game to bed – including a trio from a corner.
Gabriel’s header was palmed away by Hermansen, as was Calafiori’s follow-up, and Timber eventually blazed over from six yards.
Frustration was kicking in, summed up by Arteta storming down the touchline in a rage as Justin appeared to stop Martinelli from taking a quick throw-in.
A penny for Arteta’s thoughts then as in the 63rd minute, Justin skimmed a beautiful volley in off Raya’s post – one that silenced the home end and sent the away one potty.
What followed was a goalkeeping masterclass from Hermansen, pulling off numerous wonder saves to stop Havertz’s acrobatics, Trossard’s one-on-one and Calafiori’s header.
Raheem Sterling, 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri and Gabriel Jesus were thrown on – but it was that man Trossard who popped up when his team needed it most.
And there was still time for Havertz to get a fourth in the 99th minute when the ball bounced off him and in.
The offside flag initially ruled it out before VAR stepped in to allow the goal to stand.