VARDY’S FAVE PARTY PIECE
Gatecrasher Jamie is Guns nemesis again
Jamie Vardy just loves scoring against Arsenal, it is one of the things that he does best, and it was cruel punishment for Mikel Arteta and his wasteful players.
Leicester striker Vardy, who had missed the last two games through injury, has scored 11 Premier League goals against Arsenal, with only Wayne Rooney netting more with 12.
And it was Vardy who showed exactly what Arsenal were missing – a ruthless, killer edge as the Gunners squandered chances and were not clinical or direct enough.
Incredibly, this was the first time Arsenal had lost a home league game in 33 matches in October but if there was one player to end that sequence then it had to be Vardy.
He just seems to feast on Arsenal’s defence and, the longer the game went on, the more you felt it would not be their night.
They had 57 per cent possession and more shots yet still ended up losing and, having both kicked off on nine points, it suddenly looks as if Leicester have made the really impressive start while the jury is out on Arsenal.
Defeats to Liverpool, Manchester City and Leicester show that they are not ready to join the Premier League’s elite just yet. They are still some way behind those sort of teams. The results prove it.
They just could not find the finishing touch or even create enough clear- cut chances for all their nice approach play. Alexandre Lacazette was the most wasteful and Pierre- Emerick Aubameyang has now gone five Premier League games without a goal which feels like a drought for him.
Hector Bellerin arguably went closest for Arsenal, one run was curtailed by Jonny Evans’ brilliant challenge and another volley stopped by Kasper Schmeichel’s save. But in truth Bellerin was lucky not to have been sent off for a second yellow by the time of the second one.
Arsenal will point to an early effort when Lacazette headed in, the linesman’s flag went up and referee Craig Pawson checked with VAR and ruled Granit Xhaka was offside. No, Xhaka did not touch it, but he was clearly in Schmeichel’s view and the decision was spot- on after just two minutes despite the complaints and controversy.
Leicester really missed Vardy’s presence from the starting line- up as they looked rather toothless with only Harvey Barnes as a false nine.
Lacazette’s miss on the half- hour mark was unforgivable. Kieran Tierney drilled in a cross from the left, Lacazette should have got his head to the ball but seemed put off by Christian Fuchs’ challenge.
But as the game wore on, you just knew it was a matter of time before Brendan Rodgers played the ace up his sleeve.
On came Vardy on the hour mark and you immediately sensed the nerves in the Arsenal defence.
Youri Tielemans’ lovely clipped ball over the top released Cengiz Under, the Leicester substitute raced down the right, pulled back a clever cross and Vardy raced in to make no mistake 10 minutes from time.
Despite their summer spending, Arsenal are still a work in progress.
They still look vulnerable, they still look some way off being the finished article and a top- four team. But that’s exactly what Leicester look like.