MIKEL GETS DROP ON SPURS
ARSENAL made light of boss Mikel Arteta’s decision to drop Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for disciplinary reasons by coming from behind to deservedly beat ten-man rivals Tottenham.
The forward was reportedly left out after arriving late for the game but Martin Odegaard and a controversial Alexandre Lacazette penalty gave the Gunners three points and dented Spurs’ hopes of gatecrashing the top four.
Erik Lamela, an early substitute for the injured Heung-min Son, had put the visitors ahead with an incredible rabona finish but was later sent off for two bookings in quick succession.
Arsenal dominated from the kick-off with Spurs strangely subdued for a side who had won their previous five games.
Emile Smith Rowe fired a long-range shot against the post with Hugo Lloris beaten and Lamela’s opener for Spurs was totally against the run of play.
Sergio Reguilon had pushed the ball into Lucas Moura who laid off for Lamela to find the far corner with a fine piece of skill. The brilliance was summed up by Reguilon’s stunned reaction.
To their credit, Arsenal did not let the blow knock them out of their stride and Cedric Soares became the second man to hit the woodwork with a low shot.
The Gunners’ equaliser a minute before the break was the least they deserved, even if Odegaard’s first Premier League goal came via a deflection off Toby Alderweireld.
Spurs had already taken off Gareth Bale, who was largely anonymous compared to his recent rejuvenation, when they fell behind in the second half.
Lacazette took a swipe and missed a ball in the air and was caught by Davinson Sanchez in the follow through with referee Michael Oliver pointing immediately to the spot.
Much to the chagrin of Spurs boss
Jose Mourinho, the decision was upheld by VAR official Paul Tierney and Lacazette swept home the penalty.
Spurs’ hopes of getting back into the game were then damaged as Lamela, cautioned a few minutes earlier for a lunge on Thomas Partey, got a far harsher second yellow card as he held off Kieran Tierney with a raised arm.
Despite that, it was Arsenal who had to ride their luck in a nervous finish, Harry Kane seeing an 83rd-minute header ruled out for offside and arrowing a late free-kick against the post.
KELECHI IHEANACHO scored his first Premier League hat-trick as rampant Leicester put rudderless Sheffield United to the sword at the King Power Stadium.
Ayoze Perez was also on target and an Ethan Ampadu own goal completed the rout against a Blades team who had seen Chris Wilder leave as manager yesterday.
Under-23s coach Paul Heckingbottom took charge yesterday and the rock-bottom visitors’ weaknesses were even more exposed without Wilder’s influence.
Jamie Vardy dragged a 20-yard shot wide after eight minutes before Perez’s glancing header was touched on to the post by Aaron Ramsdale. The goalkeeper then blocked a low shot from Vardy with his legs.
Leicester made the breakthrough six minutes before half-time. Some sharp, incisive passing between Youri Tielemans and Perez resulted in Vardy getting in down the left
hand side. His low cross left Iheanacho with a simple tap-in from close range.
Twice early in the second half Iheanacho tried to return the favour but Ramsdale and Chris Basham came to the rescue. A second goal was coming and the Foxes doubled their lead after 64 minutes.
Marc Albrighton countered and teed-up Perez, whose shot found the bottom corner.
Five minutes later, it was 3-0, Vardy the provider for Iheanacho, with the striker guiding the ball past Ramsdale from 12 yards.
Iheanacho completed his hat-trick after 78 minutes, the Nigerian driving a low shot from 25 yards beyond the United goalkeeper and into the bottom corner of the net.
It got worse for the Blades two minutes later when Vardy’s shot went in off Ampadu while Iheanacho nearly made it six.