Arsenal 2-1 Leicester City - Five Talking Points

Arsenal reignited the title race with a last-gasp winner against the current league leaders Leicester City at Emirates. Danny Welbeck came off the bench to clinch it for Arsenal in the last minute. Jaime Vardy opened the scoring for the visitors from the penalty spot in the first half but Wenger’s inspired substitutions wrested the game for the hosts.Theo Walcott levelled the game with a cool finish after the Foxes were reduced down to 10 men as Danny Simpson saw red for his clumsy challenge which earned him a second caution for the game. The win shaves Leicester’s lead over Arsenal by three points and is now down to five points.Here are the five major talking points from the match:

#1 Can the Foxes go the distance?

Leicester still sit atop the Premier League table

After their resounding win over Manchester City, Leicester City were anointed as the champions’ elect. Although the initial scepticism surrounding their title charge was gradually eroded after last week, a large majority of the fraternity is still having their apprehension on Foxes’ title charge.

Premier League has witnessed many intriguing titles challenges and this season is surely turning out to be one of the most unpredictable seasons since 1995. Usually, the team who leads in February is crowned as the champion in May but the pundits still doubt whether Leicester can hold their own against their seasoned rivals in the home stretch of the title race. And today’s defeat at Emirates has thrown the title race wide open.

Except Manchester City, none of the current contenders have proved their mettle in recent past when locked in the tussle of the glory. And the pressure of title victory can take a toll on the best of teams. Can Foxes hold their own against their seasoned rivals who have experience of numerous titles battles? We’ll have our answers on 15th May.

#2 Wasteful Gunners

Arsenal’s attackers finishing was not up to the mark

Arsenal must be celebrating their last gasp winner today but it was them who brought this anxiety upon themselves. After a poor first half, Arsenal took the game to the league leaders with their attacking approach. And they could’ve sailed to victory, if not for some wasteful finishing.

Arsenal, in recent past, have always been lauded for their cute style of play and also been accused of not being ruthless and clinical in front of the goal. And today a similar script was unfolding at Emirates where the hosts were failing to break down a dogged defence. And if not for Welbeck’s opportunistic poach at the death, it would’ve been a turbulent night and coming weeks for the North Londoners.

Arsenal has lacked a ruthless finisher since Robin van Persie, which has been their chink in the armour for quite a while. Can the current crop of Gunners’ artillery be the clinical poachers or their inefficiency will come to haunt them come May? We’ll know that soon enough.

#3 Huth and Morgan continue to impress

Leicester defended resolutely before the last gasp winner for Arsenal sunk their ship

It is a famous saying in football folklore, “Attacks win you matches but defences win you titles.” And after a shaky defensive start, Leicester is finally forging their defensive plinth to lead their title charge.

The centre-defensive duo of Robert Huth and Wes Morgan has sprung to life as they’re putting in exemplary performances week-in-week-out. Before facing Manchester City last week, Leicester’s defence was one of the in-form defences in the league, with a spell of 6 clean sheets.

And this defensive duo has played a major part in this defensive run. They shut out a free-flowing attack at Etihad with finesse which boasted the likes of Sergio Aguero and David Silva.

They were rock solid today as well, where they held their own till the very last minute despite being down to 10 men and also weathering the siege laid on their goal by the home team. If not for a splendid delivery by Mesut Ozil and an equally superb finish by Danny Welbeck, they would’ve salvaged a point for Claudio Ranieri ad themselves.

#4 The Mancunian clinches it for the Red and Whites!

Welbeck returned from injury with a bang

It is often said that titles are won or lost in the stoppage time and who better than Danny Welbeck can explain it? Welbeck is no stranger to title charges nor he is unaware of clinching victories in stoppage time. But today, it was the first time he did it at someplace other than Old Trafford.

The Mancunian today may just have split the title race wide open with his heroics. Welbeck showed why he is different from other Gunners and why Arsenal Wenger splashed the cash for him at the deadline day. He turned the game on its heels with his arrival as he gave much-needed support to Olivier Giroud, who till then was waging a battle against Leicester ‘s burly centre-halves on his own.

Every manager and every team has it’s pivotal moment in the title race, and this goal by Welbeck may well be the moment which ends title drought for both Wenger and Arsenal.

#5 Kante bulldozes Gunners\' midfield

Kante dominated the midfield

Leicester City have been lauded for their transfer acumen this season and N’golo Kante surely justifies it with his startling performances week in week out. The Frenchman has been the find of this season where he has fearlessly bossed the midfield for Leicester throughout the season.

Today was no different as the 24-year-old blasted Gunners’ midfield that boasted of names like Francois Coquelin and Aaron Ramsey. He was pivotal in Leicester’s dominant first-half display where he nipped out any freedom to Arsenal’s creative forces.

And he was by far the brightest spark in the away team with his tenacity in shielding the back four and also led the charge in Arsenal’s penalty box as well.

He upped his game when Leicester went down to 10 men. Alas! He couldn’t propel his side to a historic victory like he did at Etihad but the surely won over the fans with his catchy display.