- Arsenal gave a big boost to their top-four race on Sunday with a huge win over Leicester City in the Premier League
- The Gunners won 2-0 at the Emirates courtesy to goals from Thomas Partey and Alexandre Lacazette
- Arsenal are now sitting comfortably in fourth place even with three games in hand over fifth-placed Manchester United
In-form Arsenal moved back into the top four of the Premier League as Thomas Partey and Alexandre Lacazette scored in a 2-0 win over Leicester City.
Partey opened the scoring for Mikel Arteta’s men following a corner, before hitting the angle of post and crossbar during a first half in which Leicester managed just three shots.
Caglar Soyuncu’s handball allowed Lacazette to double the advantage from the penalty spot, sealing another win for one of the Premier League’s strongest current sides.
Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey celebrates after scoring against Leicester City in the Premier League clash. | PHOTO: Getty Images |
The result lifted Arsenal back above Manchester United in the table, as they chase a first top-four finish since 2016.
After making a bright start, Arsenal took the lead in the 11th minute, exploiting Leicester’s continued frailty from set-pieces when the unmarked Partey headed in Gabriel Martinelli’s corner.
Spurred on by that, Arsenal twice came close to doubling their advantage in the 18th minute, with Partey curling a fantastic attempt against the goal frame after Granit Xhaka’s shot was blocked at close range.
Home goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was forced into his first serious save after 35 minutes, acrobatically turning away Harvey Barnes’ flicked header, but Leicester struggled to create chances in a strong opening period for the hosts.
But the Gunners were awarded a penalty after a VAR review just moments later when Soyuncu handled Partey’s header, allowing Lacazette to fire into the top left corner in the 59th minute.
Arsenal players celebrate after Alexander Lacazette scored the second against Leicester City in the Premier League clash. | PHOTO: Getty Images |
Kieran Tierney denied Barnes with a last-ditch challenge, and Emile Smith Rowe went close from a tight angle before the Gunners confidently saw out their ninth win in 11 league matches.
After seeing off the challenge of Leicester, Arsenal has taken 28 points from the last 33 available to them in the Premier League, with no team able to better their return over that period.
Arteta’s men lead top-four rivals Manchester United by a single point in the table, and they also possess three games in hand over the Red Devils as they emerge as favourites for Champions League qualification.
Partey’s early header represented the Ghana midfielder’s second goal of the Premier League season and was an all-too-familiar sight for Brendan Rodgers.
It also underlined Leicester’s dire set-piece record. Excluding penalties, the Foxes have now conceded 15 Premier League goals from set-piece situations this season, the most of any side.
After swinging in the corner for Partey’s opener, Martinelli has been directly involved in eight goals in 18 Premier League appearances this season, registering five goals and three assists.
That total represents two more goal improvements than he registered in his first two campaigns in the competition (six-goal involvements in 28 appearances).
The Gunners will host Liverpool in a huge Premier League clash on Wednesday, while Leicester turns their attention to Europe the following day, travelling to Rennes for the second leg of their Europa Conference League tie.
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