Dominated and led to the score at Emirates Stadium by Leicester, Arsenal needed a half and the return of Aubameyang to tame the Foxes 3-1. Present on all three goals, Özil also played a major role in his team’s tenth consecutive success.
Was Arsenal going to make it to ten straight victories in all competitions ? Untenable since the end of August, the Gunners managed to get back to the top of the standings, even climbing the podium on Monday night in case of a big success on Leicester. Emery lined up Lacazette again at the point, to the detriment of Aubameyang who started on the bench, just like Guendouzi. Iwobi, Özil and Mkhitaryan accompanied the Frenchman in front. In front, the Foxes were not to be taken lightly. Of course, they had irregular results, but they were quite capable of causing problems for Londoners. For this, Vardy could count on Iheanacho’s support.
It was the Nigerian who was the first in this match with a shot from Holding (2′). He then put Leno to work on this good shot (6th). Leicester dominated this first quarter of an hour against an Arsenal team that had the greatest difficulty in passing. Worse, Emery’s team offered many dangerous free-kicks. On one of them, enterprising Maddison found the Colossus Maguire who saw his head deflected in-extremis by Leno (20th). Only Lacazette managed to respond to the domination of the Foxes (26′) but finally, Chilwell rewarded them with a deflected shot by Bellerin (0-1, 31′).
Özil and the return of Aubameyang bend Leicester
The Gunners finally needed that shot to finally start playing. Xhaka put a free kick under the bar that Schmeichel was going to get (33′). Iwobi also gave the Danish goalkeeper a thrill (42nd) but it was Özil who tied everyone up just before the break (1-1, 45th). Arsenal was back on the field swollen and full of confidence in his game. Mkhitaryan was discreet in this encounter and lit a first fuse (51′). If Ndididi catapulted his whim on the bar (58′), the entries of Aubameyang and Guendouzi would be decisive (61′).
On his second ball, the Gabonese found himself at the conclusion of a Bellerin centre (2-1, 63′). On the next action, he was again present in the last gesture to concretize a marvel of collective movement (3-1, 66e). With this double, Arsenal’s victory was slowly taking shape. The pace dropped a little bit, up to Iwobi’s ball for Özil, who saw Lacazette alone in the back of the net but who fired right at Schmeichel (78′). He was missing out again after a good centre from his Nigerian partner (84′). So much the worse for the French, who will still have made a good match overall. Arsenal is fourth on the night of the 9th Premier League, just two points behind the two leaders.