Arsenal 0-1 Leicester City
That Jamie Vardy just loves playing against Arsenal!
He now has 11 goals in 12 Premier League matches against the Gunners and is the highest-scoring away player at the Emirates Stadium in the top-flight.
No wonder Arsenal didn’t want to see him coming off the bench with an hour played and the Foxes weathering a storm.
You can guess the rest!
Highlights of the game
Sunday night Premier League football at the Emirates has a certain ring to it and there was plenty to be excited about when the teams were announced.
Both teams may have been in Europa League action on Thursday, but only Arsenal rotated their side. Captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was one of five changes for the Gunners with new boy, Ghanaian international Thomas Partey, starting in midfield for his first game in the English top flight.
Leicester City made just one change as full-back James Justin replaced striker Kelechi Iheanacho, with Vardy – who had missed their last two league and cup games with a calf problem – on the bench.
Leicester may have begun their new European adventure in fine style on Thursday night but this was an altogether different test.
It seemed so from the outset too as Arsenal made all the running and thought they had taken an early lead when Alexandre Lacazette headed in from a corner, only for Granit Xhaka and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to both be ruled offside.
Pre-match, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta had moved to ease some pressure on Aubameyang who, in the early stages of the new season, is yet to replicate his prolific return.
But he was largely anonymous throughout and has now gone five Premier League games without a goal for the first time.
Yes, Arsenal had 11 shots in the first half and were constantly pressing, but Kasper Schmeichel’s only save of note came from the one effort after the break, pushing out a decent volley from Hector Bellerin.
Despite the best efforts of Kieran Tierney raiding with intent down the left, the hosts were struggling to break down the well-organised Foxes and frustrations grew.
Then came one of Leicester’s Premier League 2020 highlights, one which they haven’t enjoyed at Arsenal since 1973 – a match-winning goal.
Youri Tielemans’ pass found substitute Cengiz Under and, with the chance to shoot, the Turk opted unselfishly to clip the ball back across goal where Vardy was waiting to head into an open net.
It was Leicester’s first effort on target and the SBOTOP Premier League 2020 betting odds had been thrown wide open.
Leicester had their first away win at Arsenal for 47 years, ending a run of 27 games without an away victory against them in all competitions.
It just had to be Jamie!
Key statistics
Vardy has scored 11 Premier League goals against Arsenal – only Wayne Rooney, with 12, has netted more versus the Gunners.
This was his 109th Premier League goal, moving past Peter Crouch and drawing level with Premier League legend Ryan Giggs.
Leicester have won their opening three away games in a league season for the first time. This was also Leicester’s fourth victory in the Premier League this season, their joint-highest after six games of a top-flight campaign, having also won four of their opening six in 2000-01.
This was the first time manager Brendan Rodgers has triumphed in eight away matches against Arsenal in all competitions (drawn three, lost four).
Until tonight, Arsenal had been unbeaten in their past 27 home games against Leicester in all competitions.
This was Arsenal’s first home league defeat in 2020, a run of 11 matches since defeat by Chelsea last December (won nine, drawn two).
The Gunners have only failed to score in four of their last 74 home league fixtures, with each of those blanks coming against Manchester City, who they lost to last weekend (away).
Bukayo Saka made his 50th appearance for Arsenal this evening – 31 of those have come in the 38 games the Gunners have played under Arteta.
What’s next?
This was the first of four Arsenal home matches in quick succession.
They host Irish minnows Dundalk in the Europa League on Thursday (October 29), visit Man Utd in the Premier League a week today and then have more home games against Molde of Norway in Europe and Aston Villa in the top flight.
Leicester are in Greece to face AEK Athens on Thursday and then at Leeds on November 2 in the Premier League. That is followed by home matches against Braga and Midlands’ rivals Wolves.
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