ARSENAL have gone five points clear at the top of the Premier League after beating Leicester 1-0.
Gabriel Martinelli scored the only goal of the game with a clever finish early into the second half.
The Gunners thought they were ahead in the first half but Leandro Trossard’s goal was chalked out after Ben White appeared to hold goalkeeper Danny Ward’s arm.
And the Gunners made a touching gesture to give Oleksandr Zinchenko captaincy a year on from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
- Result: Leicester 0-1 Arsenal
- Leicester XI: Ward; Castagne, Souttar, Faes, Kristiansen; Dewsbury-Hall, Ndidil; Tete, Praet, Barnes; Iheanacho
- Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Jorginho, Xhaka; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli
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Back to the promised land
Aside from their title challenge, Arsenal now find themselves 16 points clear of Newcastle in fifth spot.
This means that Champions League football is becoming a realistic outcome for The Gunners.
For big sides, it is integral that you are competing in Europe’s elite competition and it makes a big difference in the calibre of players you can attract in the summer.
Gunners in prime position at top
After two big wins on the road, Arsenal fans will fancy their chances of extending their run in the upcoming fixtures.
They welcome Everton and Bournemouth to The Emirates before tackling two London derbies away from home.
Arteta’s side will head to Fulham and Crystal Palace and the hierarchy will fancy that four wins are possible from these games.
Come Ukraine or shine
Oleksandr Zinchenko has been a great signing for Mikel Arteta’s side in the summer.
His commitment and willing to get forward to offer options as they attack, offers a different dimension to their game.
There is no doubt that he could quite easily slot into a more attacking position for The Gunners.
Rodgers looking over his shoulder
With his side failing to create any chances today, the Leicester manager will be concerned.
Leeds and West Ham both win today, shortening the gap between them and the likes of The Foxes.
However, defeats for Everton and Southampton still leave a four-point gap between Leicester and the relegation zone.
FT: Leicester 0-1 Arsenal
A huge victory for table-topping Arsenal.
As the stats show, over the course of the game The Gunners did enough to edge this game.
Leicester failed to make Aaron Ramsdale make a single save and there will be worries for their safety.
FT: Leicester 0-1 Arsenal
The referee brings the game to an end to the huge cheers from the away end.
Over to you Man City is the message from Arteta’s side.
Arsenal are five points clear at the top of the table.
Leicester 0-1 Arsenal
90+4. Partey gets down the right and looks to cross but Souttar heads it behind for a corner.
It gives the visitors the chance to see this game out as Saka comes over to take it.
This will be a hard-fought three points for The Gunners.
Leicester 0-1 Arsenal
90+2. Partey is robbed in the middle of the park.
Dewsbury-Hall does well down the left to beat his man but the cross is lacking.
The home fans are getting behind their team now.
Credit: Reuters Leicester 0-1 Arsenal
90. The Belgian midfielder comes back on to give it a go.
Arsenal are happy to just clear their lines at the moment.
They could do with a goal to kill this game off.
The fourth official lifts his board to show five additional minutes.
Leicester 0-1 Arsenal
88. Leicester could have to finish the game with ten players.
Tielemans looks like he is unable to continue.
This could help the visitors in seeing out the game.
Leicester 0-1 Arsenal
86. Tielemans and Xhaka are both down after a coming together.
The Leicester man seemed to land awkwardly, walking gingerly on his ankle.
Brendan Rodgers’ side have used all five subs now so he will be hoping he can continue.
Leicester 0-1 Arsenal
84. Jorginho’s role of best supporting actor looks set to continue as he makes another miracle recovery.
As a result, Odegaard comes off for Partey.
Mikel Arteta is looking to hold on to what they have now.
Credit: Reuters Leicester 0-1 Arsenal
82. Not sure about man of the match but Jorginho could be up for an Oscar nomination after this game.
He is rolling around holding his head like Vardy tackled him with a baseball bat.
Arteta looks set to bring Partey on, with Jorginho down once again, he could make way for him.
Leicester 0-1 Arsenal
80. Arteta is looking his usual animated self on the touchline.
He spends very little time in that technical area nowadays.
Maybe the league need to tie him to a bungee cord tethered to the dugout.
Leicester 0-1 Arsenal
78. Soumare and Daka come on for Praet and Ndidi.
Brendan Rodgers switching to two strikers as they chase an equaliser.
This will test the Arsenal back line more.
Leicester 0-1 Arsenal
76. These Arsenal players go down very easily.
Any slight contact and it is like the beach scene from Saving Private Ryan.
Fortunately for the visitors, the referee is buying it all of the time.
Credit: Reuters Leicester 0-1 Arsenal
74. Nketiah does well to control the ball but he loses it as he tries to run at the Leicester defence.
The hosts counter but Praet’s cross is poor.
He needs to realise they have Jamie Vardy up front and not Harry Potter.
Leicester 0-1 Arsenal
72. The visitors will be keen to get another goal to put a bit of daylight between the two sides.
Otherwise it could make for a nervy end to the game.
Leicester need to give Vardy more to work with.
Dewsbury-Hall shoots from distance, not far away from Ramsdale’s post.
Leicester 0-1 Arsenal
70. Gabriel gathers the corner deep in the box, looking to cross it back into the danger area.
The defender does enough as the ball goes out for a goal kick.
Eddie Nketiah comes on for Leandro Trossard.
Leicester 0-1 Arsenal
68. Martinelli looks a different player in this half.
Whatever Mikel Arteta said has worked a treat.
Ndidi is fouled by Trossard, giving the home side a breather.
Leicester 0-1 Arsenal
66. Vardy is already giving Leicester more of an outlet up top.
Dewsbury-Hall clips a cross into the near post and the striker almost gets on the end of it.
Tielemans looks keen to make an impression today.
Credit: Getty
Leicester 0-1 Arsenal
64. Vardy must hate that docu-soap about his wife.
Opposing fans are rinsing him whenever he comes onto the pitch.
Ironically, setting foot on the grass begins chants from the away end voicing the same topic.
Leicester 0-1 Arsenal
62. The home side are struggling to get out of their own defensive third.
It looks like Tielemans and Vardy are about to join us.
Jamie Vardy has a phenomenal scoring record against Arsenal.
Iheanacho and Tete are replaced.
Leicester 0-1 Arsenal
60. Arsenal are looking more dangerous in the Leicester final third in this half already.
This time it is Zinchenko who draws a full-stretch save from Ward.
Trossard is fouled on the edge of the box.
Leicester 0-1 Arsenal
58. The VAR room agrees with the on-field decision.
Barnes is seeing more of the ball in this second half.
If Leicester can do anything to get back into this game, Barnes could be key for Rodgers’ side.
Credit: Reuters
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
