[ad_1]
Arsenal vs Leicester: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League coverage from the Emirates Stadium
ARSENAL 3-1 LEICESTER | BELLERIN OG (30), OZIL (44), AUBAMEYANG (63, 65)
Arsenal XI: Leno, Bellerin, Mustafi, Holding, Lichtsteiner, Mkhitaryan, Torreira, Xhaka, Ozil, Iwobi, Lacazette
Leicester XI: Schmeichel, Amartey, Evans, Maguire, Chilwell, Pereira, Mendy, Ndidi, Maddison, Iheanacho, Vardy
- Aaron Ramsey and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on bench
- Leicester denied penalty after Holding handball
- Ben Chilwell nets deflected opener off Hector Bellerin – Given to the Arsenal defender
- Mesut Ozil equaliser before the break
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang converts Hector Bellerin cross
- Aubameyang scores second in two minutes
Arsenal vs Leicester: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League coverage from the Emirates (Image: REUTERS)
Standings
22:05: Blimey, talk about quietly going about their business. Arsenal are up to fourth in the Premier League table with these three points – two behind Manchester City and Liverpool.
Not terrible for Leicester – but Claude Puel’s side stay 11th after their second straight defeat.
Twitter round-up
James: If you drank as much Red Bull as Jamie Vardy before a game, you’d be disappearing for a comfort break pretty sharpish too I fancy…
John: Arsenal win 3-1, make it ten in a row, Aubameyang scores twice and yet the night belongs to Ozil. That was just magical. One of his best performances in an Arsenal shirt.
Tom: Arsenal went from ragged to rampant. Three stunning goals with Ozil leading by example as captain. And Xhaka ended up at left-back. Emery can do little wrong these days. Ten wins in a row.
Arsenal vs Leicester: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League coverage from the Emirates (Image: GETTY)
ARSENAL 3-1 LEICESTER
FT: And that’s it folks. Arsenal have blown Leicester away with two sumptuous second-half goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The striker will take the headlines, but Mesut Ozil and Hector Bellerin were incredible tonight. The German takes the MOTM award if you ask me.
Arsenal have won 10 consecutive matches in all competitions for the first time since October 2007 (a run of 12).
92: Oh It’s Arsene Wenger’s birthday today. I forgot to send a card but I’m going to dedicate tonight’s blog to the legendary Frenchman.
90: Three minutes of added time as Rachid Ghezzal, who was a one-week wonder in my terrible FPL team, strikes miles wide. Nearly took out the corner flag with that one.
88: Ey up! No wonder Leicester look like they are playing with a man less… they are! The Foxes have made all three substitutions but Jamie Vardy has walked down the tunnel after a quick chat with Claude Puel. Stomach upset or injury maybe?
85: Arsenal carving through Leicester like a hot knife through butter. Iwobi picks out Lacazette at the far post but the Frenchman snatches at it. Wide.
Arsenal vs Leicester: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League coverage from the Emirates (Image: GETTY)
83: Alan Smith, Arsenal legend, still isn’t sure if Arsenal are genuine title contenders. He thinks the Gunners are still too leaky at the back to rival Manchester City. Liverpool coming up in a few weeks… we could well see where Unai Emery’s side really are.
80: What a reception for Mesut Ozil, who receives a standing-ovation for his efforts tonight. Perhaps Unai Emery will give him the captain’s armband on a permanent basis? Aaron Ramsey comes on for the final 10 minutes.
78: Close! It should be 4-1 and Alexandre Lacazette’s name on the scoresheet. Ozil glides past his marker and lays it on a plate for the Frenchman, who tamely strikes at Schmeichel.
75: Leicester staging somewhat of a revival over the last few minutes, but that’s perhaps more down to Arsenal game-management.
72: Apparently six substitutes have scored hat-tricks in Premier League history: Solskjaer v Forest, Hbadelbaink v Wolves, Earnshaw v Charlton, Adebayor v Derby, Lukaku v Man Utd, S. Naismith v Norwich. Will Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang be lucky number seven?!
70: James Maddison is replaced by Shinji Okazaki for the final 20 minutes.
69: Arsenal have scored more Premier League goals via substitutes this season than any other team (6).
68: Pereira, who was booked, comes off for Ghezzal.
Arsenal vs Leicester: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League coverage from the Emirates (Image: REUTERS)
Arsenal vs Leicester: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League coverage from the Emirates (Image: REUTERS)
ARSENAL 3-1 LEICESTER | AUBAMEYANG
65: Oh behave… Arsenal have taken the game away from Leicester in less than three minutes. And this one might just be the best of the lot.
It’s champagne football from Arsenal and irresistible approach play that ends with Mesut Ozil laying it on a plate for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who converts into an empty net.
I suspect that will be game, set and match. Gunners on course for a 10th straight win in all competitions.
ARSENAL 2-1 LEICESTER | AUBAMEYANG
63: In the words of Alan Partridge, that was textbook. Arsenal have turned things around with another free-flowing and clinical goal.
Substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who’s only been on the pitch for 60 seconds, taps in Hector Bellerin’s pinpoint cross and the Emirates is buzzing.
62: Changes. Three changes to be precise. Henrikh Mkhitaryan is replaced by Matteo Guendouzi, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang comes on for Stephan Lichtsteiner. Claude Puel also makes a change as Kelechi Iheanacho is replaced by Marc Albrighton.
Arsenal vs Leicester: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League coverage from the Emirates (Image: REUTERS)
60: We’ve just ticked past the hour-mark and we’re still no closer to a winner at the Emirates. Arsenal having all the possession but Leicester still looking dangerous on the break. Delicately poised.
59: Woodwork! Leicester are inches away from re-taking the lead against the run of play as Wilfried Ndidi crashes James Maddison’s corner against the crossbar.
56: Leicester doing their best to disrupt Arsenal with hoofs upfield and a few rough challenges – but the Gunners keep on coming! Arsenal relentless.
54: Suicidal defending! Ndidi plays a ridiculously under-hit backpbad to Schmeichel, and Lacazette pounces. The Frenchman twists and turns before finding Mkhitaryan to blast over.
Arsenal starting on the front-foot with Leicester looking rattled.
51: Jamie Vardy mouths something extremely naughty as Mesut Ozil goes down in a heap under his challenge. Granit Xhaka stands over a free-kick from the right… cleared by Amartey.
48: James Maddison takes one on the chops from Granit Xhaka as the Arsenal star was pulling away. Certainly not intentional in my view, and referee Chris Kavanagh’s.
ARSENAL 1-1 LEICESTER
45: And we’re back underway folks. Neither side has made a change although I would expect to see Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at some point in the not too distant future.
Arsenal vs Leicester: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League coverage from the Emirates (Image: REUTERS)
Arsenal vs Leicester: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League coverage from the Emirates (Image: REUTERS)
Twitter round-up
Eddie: Clbady equaliser that by Mesut Ozil. So nonchalant in caressing Hector Bellerin’s cut-back into Leicester net. Wonderful.
Karl: I got shut up for a moment with that goal but even so, I’ve supported Arsenal since 88/89 and I never thought I’d see us with such a pitiful and baffling choice of captain.
Alan: Honestly, Alex Iwobi under Unai Emery makes a huge difference. He’s become more confident and effective. He is one of our best players easily.
Gal: Admittedly been poor first half but when we get going – we’re most aesthetically pleasing side in the league!
Glad to hear that you’re the most aesthetically pleasing side in the Premier League, Gal. Wouldn’t prefer to be winning?
Arsenal vs Leicester: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League coverage from the Emirates (Image: GETTY)
Arsenal vs Leicester: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League coverage from the Emirates (Image: GETTY)
ARSENAL 1-1 LEICESTER
HT: Tell me this isn’t set up for one hell of a second half?! We’re level here at the Emirates Stadium as Chris Kavanagh blows his whistle. Leicester have been the better side but Arsenal were able to capitalise on some late momentum with a delightful Mesut Ozil finish.
45: Mesut Ozil has scored three goals in his last four Premier League appearances, as many as he bagged in his previous 22 in the competition.
ARSENAL 1-1 LEICESTER | OZIL
44: Now that’s an ice-cool finish from Mesut Ozil to equalise for Arsenal before the break. If you listen carefully, you’ll be able to hear the keyboard warriors furiously deleting their negative tweets.
It’s a superb team goal from the Gunners, who work it out to the right where Hector Bellerin picks out Ozil inside the penalty area, and the German neatly dinks it beyond Kasper Schmeichel with a nice first-time finish.
Now we’ve got a game on our hands!
Arsenal vs Leicester: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League coverage from the Emirates (Image: REUTERS)
Arsenal vs Leicester: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League coverage from the Emirates (Image: GETTY)
42: Lovely football from Arsenal. Iwobi, Mkhitaryan and Lacazette combine to send the Nigerian winger through but Schmeichel is able to collect his drilled effort from an acute angle.
39: Torreira wins Arsenal another free-kick around 25-yards from goal when crashing to the floor under a Maddison tackle. All getting vert feisty here. Xhaka again badumes the responsibility but sends it over.
36: Granit Xhaka fouls James Maddison near the halfway line and picks up a yellow card. Death, taxes… you know the rest.
34: The FPL twitter account has awarded the goal to Hector Bellerin, folks. Anyway, there’s nearly an instant response from Arsenal as Granit Xhaka sends a free-kick narrowly over the crossbar.
ARSENAL 0-1 LEICESTER | BELLERIN OG
31: Breakthrough! Leicester enjoy a slice of luck – but It’s deserved on the balance of play and that stonewall penalty decision.
Ben Chilwell, who signed a new contract this week, collects Wilfried Ndidi’s pbad at pace and his cross deflects off Hector Bellerin and past Leno.
It was a cross and not a shot – so will probably go down as a Bellerin OG once the dubious goals panel take a look!
Arsenal vs Leicester: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League coverage from the Emirates (Image: REUTERS)
Arsenal vs Leicester: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League coverage from the Emirates (Image: GETTY)
30: Mustafi living dangerously when shoving Maddison to the floor in midfield. Chris Kavanagh allowed play to continue before pulling the German aside for what will surely have been his final warning.
Pereira wriggle down the right before firing a low cross that alludes the toes of Jamie Vardy.
27: Wooooosh! He’s been awfully quiet tonight but Alexandre Lacazette nearly makes the net rattle with a thunderous effort from distance. Struck it well enough, just needed to keep it down.
24: Arsenal’s turn to pressurise. Bellerin wins the corner down the right touchline before Maguire uses the might large head of his to nod clear.
Incidentally, Claude Puel is furious his side weren’t awarded a penalty. He’s been in the fourth officials’ ear making his point.
21: Should be 1-0. I can’t believe it’s not. James Maddison floats a ball over the static Arsenal defence and Harry Maguire has a free header at the back post. He sends it back across Leno but the stopper manages switch directions and tip it wide. All Leicester at the moment. Arsenal on the ropes.
18: Holding wins the first booking of the evening, not that it’s an honour, for tugging back Iheanacho on the break. Leicester work the free-kick into the penalty area where Holding appears to have used his arm.
Just seeing the replay again… yes, that should have been a penalty. The centre-back had his arm high in the air and connected with a looping header.
Arsenal vs Leicester: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League coverage from the Emirates (Image: REUTERS)
15: Ouch! Xhaka is lucky to avoid a booking when bringing down Maddison, who spun him inside and out. The Leicester playmaker takes the set-piece himself but curls it over the crossbar.
13: Lichtsteiner decides there are simply no options going forward, so decides to thump it into orbit from 35-yards. Probably wouldn’t try that again, Stephan.
11: Alex Iwobi looks to skip inside and square the ball over to Alexandre Lacazette but he showed Amartey too much of the ball. Nice to see Iwobi improving under Unai Emery – he seemed to stagnate with Arsene Wenger.
8: Penalty appeal! Frantic stuff here at the Emirates. Arsenal want a penalty when Amartey and Ozil collide inside the area but referee Chris Kavanagh isn’t interested. Rightly so.
5: Save! And again Leicester break away to nearly make the breakthrough. Maddison nips down the left before squaring it to Iheanacho. The striker sets himself before seeing a curling effort palmed away.
3: Great pressing from Leicester in the early stages. Perhaps with Aubameyang on the bench Claude Puel’s side are more comfortable pushing higher up the field.
Wow! Leicester close to taking the lead inside three minutes. Iheanacho catches Lichtsteiner 20-yards out of position and he drives down the left flank before cutting inside and seeing a deflected strike rise above the crossbar. Rob Holding with the block.
Very early warning for Arsenal.
Arsenal vs Leicester: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League coverage from the Emirates (Image: REUTERS)
ARSENAL 0-0 LEICESTER
1: And we’re off! Good atmosphere for a Monday night inside the Emirates.
Two-minute warning
19:58: We’re almost underway folks. I will be accepting you predictions. I think this is going to have goals. 4-2 to Arsenal, is that just stupid?
Balance – Emery
19:55: Arsenal manager Unai Emery: ”We are doing a lot of things tactically and different combinations every matches. The first eleven with Alexandre Lacazette, Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan and the players on the bench are important. We cannot play with certain striker doing the matches and we want to give balance with the midfielders to control the way we want.
“Leicester are a very good team, near to us in the table and we need to win today. We have to have a competitive 90 minutes and we need to continue improving and imposing every day.”
Arsenal vs Leicester: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League coverage from the Emirates (Image: REUTERS)
Arsenal vs Leicester: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League coverage from the Emirates (Image: REUTERS)
Twitter round-up
Rezaa: Arsenal will struggle tonight with Mesut Ozil in the team. No tracking back or defensive contribution against a counter attacking Leicester. Aaron Ramsey should’ve started.
Kyle: Arsenal are still a work in progress but 9 wins in a row is sensational after back to back defeats to Chelsea and City. Arsenal were a joy to watch against Fulham and Emery is doing a great job so far. Iwobi and Welbeck and Bellerin have improved a lot.
Charles: What an important game for Arsenal…a win tonight is a real sign-post for our future prosperity…it’s going to be tough, Leicester often have our number. Score will be 4-3…no, 0-0…2-0…1-2…8…11? What I’m saying is that I don’t know how good/bad we are yet.
Confidence
19:40: James Maddison insists he always believed he would make an instant impact in the Premier League.
Same here – that’s why I need you to save my fantasy football team tonight, James! The 21-year-old has thrived in the top flight since his £24million summer move from Norwich.
“I always believe in my own ability, that I can come to this level and have an effect,” he said. “I wouldn’t use the word easy, as you come up against some really tough opponents, but it’s been a step up and one I’ve relished.
“Hopefully I can keep my form high and my performances good and we can carry it out for the rest of the season. It’s never easy to be a regular in the starting XI, but I’ve worked hard in pre-season and my performances have been relatively good, so I think I’ve been deserving of the starts.”
Arsenal vs Leicester: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League coverage from the Emirates (Image: REUTERS)
Always wanted him
19:35: Unai Emery taking a leaf out of Harry ‘always wanted him’ Redknapp’s book here. And a lesson from David ‘we nearly signed him’ Moyes.
Emery believes Alexandre Lacazette can only get better after admitting he tried to sign the striker while at PSG.
The 27-year-old joined from Lyon having scored 60 times in his last two campaigns in France – form that attracted the attention of Emery, who was then in charge of rivals PSG.
Emery was working with the likes of Edinson Cavani and Neymar at the Parc des Princes – with Kylian Mbappe also moving to the French capital last year.
But the Arsenal boss refused to compare the forwards – revealing Lacazette was a target ahead of his move to Arsenal.
“They are different players, it is very difficult to compare,” Emery said. “But for example, when I arrived at PSG we were thinking to sign Lacazette.
“His quality and his characteristics also we liked at PSG. Also, the people who were working there, they said to us, ‘This player has the quality to play for PSG’ when we were there. He was at Lyon and it wasn’t easy to have the conversation or to sign a player from Lyon or from PSG for Lyon. He was an option for us.”
Arsenal vs Leicester: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League coverage from the Emirates (Image: TWITTER)
Claude questions credentials
19:30: Blimey, mild-mannered Claude Puel with a jab to the kidneys. Where did that come from?!
Puel believes it is too soon to label Arsenal genuine title contenders.
Arsenal will break into the top four with victory tonight, but Puel is prepared to reserve judgement over whether they can win a first title since 2004.
“We will see. He started with some difficulties and lost the first two games but after they have worked and played well to win games in the cup, Europa League and Premier League,” Puel said. “They can have good confidence for the future, but for the title I don’t know. It is just the beginning of the season and the Premier League has a lot of possibilities.”
Wait, what?!
19:25: I see Leicester’s social media accounts have taken to predicting the future.
On Friday, the Foxes twitter account posted an image of Jamie Vardy clenching his fist with the words: “Goal. Jamie Vardy. 0-1.”
The tweet was removed quickly – but not quick enough for those eagle-eyed Leicester supporters! Should this happen, I’ll be asking for tomorrow’s Champions League results. £££.
Arsenal vs Leicester: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League coverage from the Emirates (Image: REUTERS)
Don’t get carried away!
19:20: That’s the message coming from Unai Emery, who has urged supporters to keep a lid on their expectations.
Since defeat to Manchester City and Chelsea in the opening two games of the season, Emery has lead his new side to wins in every game.
Arsenal can move two points off the top of the table if they see off the Foxes at the Emirates Stadium – but Emery wants to keep things in perspective.
“Manchester City and Chelsea were the first two games,” he said. “They are two teams in form and with two points more than us. Their qualities and performances are very, very high. But also we are doing our way and we improving our things.
“We need to carry on to find our best individual and collective performance to stay close to them.
“But I say to you: we need to get better in a lot of things now. It is our best target now, don’t stop. Think and badyse with the players to improve this.”
Arsenal vs Leicester: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League coverage from the Emirates (Image: REUTERS)
Twitter round-up
Daniel: Looking forward to seeing exactly where Arsenal are as a team tonight. Been on a great run but had some favourable games. Expect Leicester to be a stiffer test but one I think Emery and co will overcome.
Adam: First time The Arsenal have been on Monday Night Football in over 12 months! Looking forward to seeing Jamie Carragher pick the bones out of a 10 game win streak!
Fed: Ever since Jamie Vardy had that ONE party, he’s been on a party drought. 4-1 tonight.
But it was one hell of a party, Fed.
Arsenal vs Leicester: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League coverage from the Emirates (Image: REUTERS)
Team news – Arsenal
19:10: Unai Emery has made two changes to his side that thumped Fulham a few weeks ago.
Mesut Ozil returns to the starting XI in favour of Danny Welbeck, who drops to the bench. Stephan Lichtsteiner also comes in for the absent Nacho Monreal at left-back.
Not quite sure where Monreal OR Sead Kolasinac are. No mention of injuries from the club… yet!
Team news – Leicester
19:05: Nice and simple from Claude Puel, who makes one change from the side who lost at home to Everton before the international break.
As previously mentioned, Jonny Evans replaces the suspended Wes Morgan – a change that I think quite a few Leicester fans would like to see made permanent.
Kelechi Iheanacho and Jamie Vardy will look to hit Arsenal on the counter. Blistering pace with those two.
Arsenal vs Leicester: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League coverage from the Emirates (Image: PA)
The line-ups
19:00: And here come the starting XI’s. Not too many surprises for Leicester with Jonny Evans replacing Wes Morgan, who serves a one-match suspension after being sent off against Everton.
Unai Emery makes changes with Stephan Lichtsteiner featuring ahead of Nacho Monreal. Mesut Ozil also starts.
Arsenal XI: Leno, Bellerin, Mustafi, Holding, Lichtsteiner, Mkhitaryan, Torreira, Xhaka, Ozil, Iwobi, Lacazette.
Subs: Martinez, Ramsey, Aubameyang, Welbeck, Guendouzi, Medley, Smith-Rowe.
Leicester XI: Schmeichel, Amartey, Evans, Maguire, Chilwell, Pereira, Mendy, Ndidi, Maddison, Iheanacho, Vardy.
Subs: Ward, Soyuncu, Albrighton, Okazaki, Iborra, Fuchs, Ghezzal.
Arsenal vs Leicester: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League coverage from the Emirates (Image: PA)
Twitter round-up
Tommy: Genuinely looking forward to Monday Night Football for once. Arsenal vs Leicester should be a cracker!
Jeff: I have a gut negative feeling about tonight’s match – hope I’m very wrong. Worried that momentum will be halted.
Andy: This has been the longest 2 weeks ever. Absolutely buzzing now the international break is done.
Don’t get too ‘buzzed,’ Andy. There’s another one in three weeks…
Arsenal vs Leicester: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League coverage from the Emirates (Image: PA)
Hello
18:50: Oh, I didn’t see you there…
Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Premier League as Arsenal welcome Leicester to the Emirates.
It’s been a pretty interesting weekend of football with Jose Mourinho’s touchline scuffle being the main highlight – Roy Hodgson’s prickly interview was also a thoroughly awkward and enjoyable moment.
But I’ve got a feeling tonight’s showdown in North London could eclipse everything.
Arsenal can move two points off the top of the table and secure a 10th straight win if they see off the Foxes.
So if you’re on public transport, out and about or being subjected to terrible terrestrial television – I’m ready to keep you updated with all the action.
Let’s have the team news and line-ups, shall we?
Arsenal vs Leicester: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League coverage from the Emirates (Image: GETTY)
Arsenal vs Leicester: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League coverage from the Emirates (Image: GETTY)
Arsenal vs Leicester: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League coverage from the Emirates (Image: REUTERS)
ARSENAL vs LEICESTER
Arsenal could welcome back Mesut Ozil having missed the win at Fulham due to a back spasm. Danny Welbeck (hamstring) is also back in training.
Sokratis Papastathopoulos (ankle) will be badessed but Laurent Koscielny (Achilles) and Konstantinos Mavropanos (groin) are still missing as Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Petr Cech return from leg and hamstring injuries respectively.
Leicester captain Wes Morgan serves a one-match suspension after being sent off against Everton before the international break. Matty James (Achilles) and Demarai Gray (ankle) are out.
Last season: Leicester 3 Arsenal 1, Arsenal 4 Leicester 3
Last five league matches: Arsenal W W W W W; Leicester L L W W L
Top scorers: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) 6; Jamie Vardy and James Maddison (Leicester) 3
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Source link
