Leicester City 2-5 Arsenal: Highlights and Player Ratings

Alexis Sanchez scored a hat-trick as Arsenal beat Leicester City 5-2

Leicester City, the only undefeated team left in the Premier League after six games, succumbed to their first defeat of the campaign as Arsenal recovered from last week’s defeat at Stamford Bridge and how. A first goal for Alexis Sanchez was quickly followed by two more from the Chilean as the Gunners ran riot up at King’s Power Stadium.

A show of intent. If this was a film, that would have been the perfect name for this 90-minute adventure. Both teams from the early goings made their intents clear and by the final whistle, they had quite clearly firmly established what they had promised. While Arsenal pummeled their way to five goals and three crucial away points, Leicester lived up to their names as the entertainers of the leagues so far this season.

So what was this game all about? It was about seven goals, a hat-trick, a match played at breath-taking speed from one end to the other and in the end Arsenal pushing their name into the fray as serious contenders for the Championship. It was Alexis Sanchez’s fhat-trick that separated the two sides, in what can be considered the Gunners’ finest offensive performance.

Leicester meawhile should come out of this with their heads held high. The Foxes showed again that they are a force to reckon with this season and fancy a crack at all comers at the moment. In fact they were the better side for opening half-an-hour and fully deserved their lead. But, the next 60 minutes proved that they still have ways to go before they can really hit it off with the big boys.

Leicester City

Kasper Schmeichel: It wasn’t the best of days for the Dane. The third and fourth goals must have been bitter pills to swallow. Schmeichel was beaten in the air as Mesut Ozil’ s fine chip helped Alexis to his second. Meanwhile, for the fourth he was beaten by sheer pace on the shot on the side of the goal he was covering. (5.5/10)

Ritchie De Laet: He broke time and again to provide ammunition on the right for Leicester. However, he was caught out by Walcott’s pace for the equalizer and had to face an on song Alexis Sanchez in the second half. (6/10)

Wes Morgan: He made a number of vital blocks time and again and was caught out by Walcott’s pace and movement on a number of occasions. (5.5/10)

Robert Huth: The German defender provided a great aerial presence as always, but his lack of pace really showed on many occasions. (5/10)

Jefferey Schlupp: He forced Cech into an impressive save early on but wasn’t much on the scene as the game wore on. (5.5/10)

Marc Albrighton: The winger created havoc in the Arsenal penalty area with some precise balls into the box – both from set-pieces as well as free play – in the opening half hour. Vardy probably should have had his second when he met one of delightful deliveries. But the Englishman wasn’t as effective later on. (6/10)

N'Golo Kante: The mainstay at the heart of the Leicester midfield put in another great shift. But he seemed to be overwhelmed by the Arsenal midfield when it finally got running. (6.5/10)

Danny Drinkwater: Another effort where he truly wore his heart on his sleeve, his delightful ball help set-up Jamie Vardy’s opener. (7/10)

Riyad Mahrez: This was not the Mahrez we have come to see and admire in recent weeks. Sprity to start with and inspired to finish. But, he looked a wee bit clumsy and sometimes tired in the middle. (5/10)

Jamie Vardy: Another great display from the England international. He grabbed both Leicester’ s goals and they were well taken too. He also hit the woodwork twice in the first half.(8.5/10)

Shinji Okazaki: A bundle of energy in the first half saw him help win Leicester a lot of possession. But he didn’t quite give anything else. (5.5/10)

Substitutes

Andy King: He never really produce any kind of telling difference after replacing Okazaki at the break. (5.5/10)

Leonardo Ulloa: The 29-year-old offered a good target for the Foxes in the last 20 odd minutes. His hold up play and lay-offs created some dangerous momets and helped Leicester grab a second. (7/10)

Andrej Kramaric: He should have grabbed himself a goal when he forced his way to the end of a great ball from Mahrez. (6/10)

Arsenal

Petr Cech: Arsenal might have conceded two, but no one can really point a finger at Cech. He made a few great saves to keep the Gunners in the game. The best among them was a point-blank save from Kramaric. (6/10)

Hector Bellerin: The Spaniard again provided Arsenal width on the right with Aaron Ramsey cutting in time and again. His timely surge led to Arsenal’s second. He could and should have been tighter on Albrighton early on though. (7/10)

Per Mertesacker: Arsenal might have been in more trouble defensively if not for the presences of the towering German. He won most duels in the air and showed a great positional sense. (6.5/10)

Laurent Koscielny: A fairly routine performance from the Frenchman who is Arsenal's bedrock at the back. His decision to not go and close down Vardy on the break early on however cost Arsenal a goal. (6.5/10)

Nacho Monreal: Another strong performance from the Spaniard who has been one of the best left-backs so far this season. He also set up Giroud’s goal with an excellent cross. (7/10)

Santi Cazorla: Imperious on the ball again, setting up Theo Walcott’s goal with an inch-perfect pass. He was one of the main reasons, if not the main reason, why Arsenal turned around the game with their midfield dominance. (8.5/10)

Mathieu Flamini: He couldn’t follow up on his midweek heroics as he had to be taken off after just 21 minutes with an injury. Leicester were on the ascendancy while he was there. (6/10)

Mesut Ozil provided a number of key passes in the game

Aaron Ramsey: A workman like performance from the Welshman who really does look out of place on the right. (6/10)

Alexis Sanchez: What a way to end his goal drought. In the end, it was his three goals that separated the two sides. A historic hat-trick. (9/10)

Alexis Sanchez is the FIRST player to score a HAT-TRICK in England, Spain and Italy's top flight leagues. @Arsenal
— Infostrada Sports (@InfostradaLive) September 26, 2015

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Mesut Ozil: Seemed to be again a bit out of sync in the first half, but provided the key pass which led to Alexis’ first. He really did come alive in the second half and some of his touches were exquisite, including the deliciously chipped ball to set up the Chilean's second. (7/10)

Theo Walcott: His pace and movement proved to be a nightmare for the Leicester defence time and again and he got a deserved goal and helped set up the second with his clever movement. (8/10)

Alexis Theo — Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott troubled the Leicester City defence on the break on many occasions

Substitutes

Mikel Arteta: The Spanish midfielder slotted in alongside his compatrio Cazorla after replacing Flamini early on. His composure on the ball was vital to turning things around for Arsenal. (7/10)

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: His pace and directness caused the Leicester defence fits in the latter stages. (6.5/10)

Olivier Giroud: Made the scoreline even more emphatic with a well-taken goal in the final minutes. (7/10)