Arsenal up to fourth with win over Leicester
Premier League
Arsenal 2-0 Leicester City
Arsenal strengthened their grip on a top-four finish with a 2-0 win over Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium.
Thomas Partey’s header gave the Gunners an early lead and Alexandre Lacazette made it two from the spot just before the hour mark after Caglar Soyuncu’s handball.
The three points lift Arsenal back above Manchester United into fourth, one point ahead of them with three games in hand. Leicester remain in twelfth.
Brendan Rodgers will be frustrated that errors undermined Leicester but Mikel Arteta’s men were better in the big moments.
Partey had come close to doubling Arsenal’s advantage in a dominant opening display from the home side when he hit the crossbar, although Leicester did come back into the contest.
Harvey Barnes came close before Ben White put in a vital tackle on James Maddison but it was Aaron Ramsdale’s superb save from Barnes that kept Arsenal ahead at the break.
The penalty took the game away from the away side, referee Anthony Taylor being told by the VAR to check the monitor when Partey’s header touched Soyuncu’s fingertips.
The contact was clear on the slow-motion replays, with Luke Thomas’ goal-line clearance sparing the Turkey international defender the red card. Lacazette made no mistake.
The home side were able to enjoy themselves from there on in with the impressive Martin Odegaard conducting the game to its conclusion – a fifth consecutive Premier League win.
Arsenal hold the advantage in the race for a top-four finish, and not just because of their points total and the number of games in hand, but also because they are playing far better football than their rivals.
