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ONE-NIL to the Arsenal has always had the ring of champions about it.
Gabriel Martinelli’s measured finish from Leandro Trossard’s nutmegged pass just 51 seconds into the second half was a rare flash of attacking quality. But Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will take another 14 performances like this if they all bring the same scoreline. “To do what the team has done today is very difficult,” said Arteta. “We dominated almost from start to finish and defensively we were incredible. “To restrict
Leicester to one shot on target at home was very good.”
The Londoners are setting the pace again after collecting six points from two tricky trips to the Midlands following last weekend’s win at Aston Villa.
Arteta added: “It has been really important to win these two games because it creates more belief with the players and around the club.
“We have got back to some basics and some details that were allowing games to get away from us. The fact that we haven’t conceded a goal today or given any chances away is important if you want to be consistently winning matches.”
When Trossard had a sensational first-half strike ruled out by VAR, the visitors could easily have started fretting about the injustice of it all.
Ben White was doing nothing more aggressive than holding hands with Danny Ward when the Leicester keeper flapped weakly at Bukayo Saka’s corner with his other fist.
But after Trossard had collected Granit Xhaka’s nudged pass, dropped his shoulder to work a yard and then lasered a shot into the top c made it clear he’d b of violent crime.
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sbury called the monitor ta another n how the one so mad. eemed more officials at et involved tar clipped e Leicester inutes later. g. mptings of enko (left), o find their ythm in the Rodgers’ massed defensive ranks until, in the first minute of the second half, Trossard collected Xhaka’s forward pass wide on the left. The Belgian had been asked to lead Arsenal’s forward line from a central position but his movement to the flank lured Souttar out of the middle.
And when Trossard cleverly fed a pass through the giant defender’s legs, Martinelli drew Ward off his line before making a mockery of the tight angle by finding the far corner.
Leicester, with James Maddison in his sickbed and Youri Tielemans on the bench, finally found a forward gear when Harvey Barnes crossed and Tete was inches away from touching home an equaliser.
Rodgers sent on Jamie Vardy, the striker who has been the scourge of Arsenal down the years, and Tielemans just after the hour mark.
But apart from a Kiernan Dewsbury-hall effort from distance that skidded wide, the home team failed to lay a glove on the league leaders.
Rodgers admitted: “The scoreboard was close but in terms of football and technique they were on a different level.
“We were too passive. We wanted to be aggressive but Arsenal kept possession so well we couldn’t get close to them.
“They are top of the league for a reason – and I think they will go very close to the title.”