Arsenal achieved a 4-2 victory against Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon, marking a return to winning form for the Gunners.
In the first half, Arsenal was dominant and took the lead when Jurriën Timber delivered a low cross to Gabriel Martinelli, who scored his first Premier League goal of the season. Martinelli played a crucial role in the attack throughout the first half and later assisted Leandro Trossard to extend the advantage.
Manager Mikel Arteta’s team enjoyed 76% possession by halftime, but Leicester responded early in the second half. James Justin’s shot, deflected off Kai Havertz from a Facundo Buonanotte free kick, found the back of the net.
Leicester’s goalkeeper, Mads Hermansen, made several key saves against Gabriel Magalhães and Trossard, but Justin later equalized with a powerful shot that hit the post. Despite more chances for Arsenal, including a saved one-on-one opportunity for Trossard, the score remained tied.
Arsenal introduced Raheem Sterling and Ethan Nwaneri to push for a late winner. After another crucial save by Hermansen, Trossard’s corner in the 94th minute was deflected in by Wilfred Ndidi, clinching the win for Arsenal. Havertz added a late goal to finalize the score.
This victory puts Arsenal level on points with Manchester City and continues their trend of late-game comebacks, showcasing their effectiveness at converting set pieces. Bukayo Saka’s noteworthy performance added to the team’s success.
However, there were some lapses in concentration, particularly from Calafiori, which could have proved costly. Nevertheless, these were minor drawbacks in what was largely a convincing performance.
Arteta earned a rating of 7, as his team created numerous chances but conceded a deflected goal and a brilliant strike. Some might believe he could have introduced Sterling earlier, but Arsenal missed a significant opportunity just before his arrival.
Player performances were evaluated with ratings ranging from 5 to 9. Notable standout players included Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, both receiving an 8 for their contributions, while Bukayo Saka was awarded a 9 for his dynamic presence on the right flank.
Substitutions made after the 70-minute mark did not receive ratings but were positively received, particularly Ethan Nwaneri’s contribution as he energized the crowd and helped force pressure on Leicester.