Vardy strikes late to end the Foxes’ long wait for victory at Arsenal
L e i c e s t e r s e c u r e d a f i r s t away league win at Arsenal in 47 years as Jamie Vardy once again proved to be the scourge of the Gunners.
The Foxes travelled to the E mi r a t e s S t a d i u m w i t h a gameplan which they played out to perfection, soaking up plent y of Arsenal pressure before introducing fit-again Vardy from the bench to do the damage and secure a 1-0 win.
Vardy had missed the last two games with a calf injury but was the match-winner here - scoring his 11th Pre - mi e r L e a g u e g o a l a g a i n s t Arsenal, with only Wayne Rooney able to boast more.
Ar s e n a l n amed a s t r o n g side and should have done better - but had an early effort controversially chalked off and then failed to make their dominance pay as Thomas Partey's home debut ended in defeat.
Mikel Ar teta thought his side had taken the lead as early as the third minute as Alexandre Lacazette headed home a Dani Ceballos corner at the front post.
A n o f f s i d e f l a g s a w t h e e f f o r t r u l e d o u t , h owe ve r, with Granit Xhaka deemed to have been interfering with play as he stood in front of Kasper Schmeichel.
H e c t o r B e l l e r i n s h o u l d h a v e d o n e b e t t e r w h e n played in b ehind by David Luiz but he dallied in p ossession and allowed Jonny Evans to make up the ground and put in the challenge.
With Vardy warming the bench, the visitors were playing without an out and out striker and therefore most of the attacking threat in the opening half an hour came through Arsenal.
Kieran Tierney was a cons t a n t t h r e a t d own t h e l e f t flank, swinging in a num - b er of dangerous crosses - one of which was inexplicably missed from point-blank range by Lacazette.
Luiz limped off soon after the restart to be replaced by S h ko d r a n Mu s t a f i b e f o r e L e i c e s t e r b o s s B r e n d a n Rodgers turned to Vardy just before the hour.
Arsenal were lucky to keep a full quota of players on the p i t c h a s B e l l e r i n , a l r e a dy b o o k e d , s l i d i n o n Ja m e s Justin.
Bukayo Saka had been carrying a knock since earlier in the second half, Arteta opting to bring on Nicolas Pepe in his place and shift PierreEmerick Aubameyang back t o h i s m o r e f a m i l i a r r o l e down the left.
It almost paid immediate dividends as the Gabon forward's deep cross was volleyed goalwards by Bellerin, with S chmeichel making a smart save.
But the winning goal would come at the other end of the p i t c h a s L e i c e s t e r f i n a l l y burst into life as an attacking force.
They would break the deadlock with their first effort on t a rg e t o f t h e e ve n i n g , h i tting on the counter-attack a s t h e i r t w o s u b s t i t u t e s combined.
Yo u r i T i e l e m a n s ' b a l l over the top of the Arsenal defence set Cengiz Under in behind and he crossed perfectly for Vardy to head home what was almost an inevitable goal against the Gunners.
The former England striker almost struck again in injur y time, breaking in behind b u t t h i s t i m e s e e i n g h i s effor t well-saved by B ernd Leno.
It would have no impact o n t h e r e s u l t , h oweve r, as Leicester secured their firstever league win at the Emirates Stadium to move into the top four, just a point behind leaders Everton, who lost at Southampton yesterday.