VARDY AND VAR DENY THE GUNNERS
Another goal by Aubameyang but great rival has last word
JAMIE VARDY took his goal tally to 22 for the season with a late equaliser to floor Arsenal and keep Leicester’s Champions League dream alive.
The Gunners had looked good value for the victory thanks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s goal. His 22nd-minute effort was his 20th of the season and put him briefly within one of Vardy in the race for the Golden Boot.
But the Foxes forward managed to nick a point after surviving a long VAR check for offside with five minutes to go.
Arsenal had substitute Eddie Nketiah sent off just three minutes after coming on when he lunged into James Justin and was given a straight red card.
THE Mikel Arteta revolution is still very much a work in progress.
But this was an exciting glimpse into the future of the Arsenal that he is trying to build even if their night ended in frustration at the Emirates.
Leicester striker Jamie Vardy got an 87th-minute leveller to snatch a point from a game Arsenal should have won by half-time but they ultimately paid a heavy price for missed chances and a crazy red card.
Arsenal were left clinging on to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s firsthalf opener after substitute Eddie Nketiah was sent off just two minutes after coming on when VAR upgraded his yellow card to red for a reckless challenge on James Justin.
It undid Arsenal’s good work when they looked to have beaten Leicester. You could easily pick out Aubameyang after the Gunners striker scored his 20th goal in the league this season, which will only turn up the pressure on the club to tie him down to a new contract.
But it was also about the emerging talent of Bukayo Saka after his 12th assist of the season in all competitions – only Kevin De Bruyne and Trent Alexander-Arnold have more. Dani Ceballos was majestic in midfield and a new resilience in defence was evident as the hosts battled, scrapped and did all the ugly things Arsenal so often get accused of not doing.
They even saw the job through after Nketiah was sent off.There is a positivity running through the team which bodes well for the future because you can see the players buy into the manager and his philosophy.
Arteta, with his beige chinos and designer gear, looks every inch the Pep Guardiola disciple on the touchline but that does him a disservice because he is clearly a good coach in his own right.
The drizzle in the air of a dank Tuesday evening made for a greasy, fast pitch and both teams played a terrific game at a lightning pace.
Arsenal keeper Emiliano Martinez had to make a terrific save from Kelechi Iheanacho after a short corner between Marc Albrighton and Ayoze Perez as
Leicester looked lively. But it was Arsenal who took the lead after 22 minutes after a free flowing move. Ceballos’ sublime pass released Saka down the right, the teenager pulled back a perfect cross for Aubameyang to score from close range.
Arsenal look a team transformed, playing with style and confidence with the front three of Saka, Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette combining brilliantly.
Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel made four excellent saves -– including two absolutely brilliant stops – as Saka’s movement and vision together with Lacazette’s workrate and non-stop pressing caused problems.
How on earth Schmeichel got down to stop Lacazette’s low shot on the turn is anyone’s guess and the keeper also made another terrific save from Hector Bellerin. Leicester regrouped after half-time but still needed Schmeichel to stop David Luiz’s 20 yard free kick which flew through a wall but the visitors also went close as Iheanacho forced a terrific stop from Martinez. Lacazette had an effort ruled out for offside before being substituted after running himself into the ground only for his replacement to get himself sent off moments after coming on.
Referee Chris Kavanagh initially gave Nketiah a yellow, but he checked with VAR and then went to look at the touchline monitor himself before eventually changing his mind.
It was ultimately the right decision and Arsenal could not hold on as Vardy netted a late leveller even if that had to survive a late VAR check itself.