Season Review: Arsenal Victory The Peak Of City's Closing Fixtures

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Season Review: Arsenal Victory The Peak Of City's Closing Fixtures

Leicester City's Premier League campaign ended in May with the highlight of April/May coming with a 3-1 success over Arsenal.

2018-05-31T12:21:19.538Z

Season Review: Arsenal Victory The Peak Of City's Closing Fixtures

Leicester City's Premier League campaign ended in May with the highlight of April/May coming with a 3-1 success over Arsenal.

2018-05-31T12:21:19.538Z

Season Review: Arsenal Victory The Peak Of City's Closing Fixtures

Leicester City's Premier League campaign ended in May with the highlight of April/May coming with a 3-1 success over Arsenal.

2018-05-31T12:21:19.538Z

Season Review: Arsenal Victory The Peak Of City's Closing Fixtures

Leicester City's Premier League campaign ended in May with the highlight of April/May coming with a 3-1 success over Arsenal.

2018-05-31T12:21:19.538Z

Season Review: Arsenal Victory The Peak Of City's Closing Fixtures

Leicester City's Premier League campaign ended in May with the highlight of April/May coming with a 3-1 success over Arsenal.

2018-05-31T12:21:19.538Z

In the final part of LCFC.com's season review, we look back at April and May...

City 1 Newcastle United 2King Power StadiumPremier LeagueSaturday 7 AprilVardy 83' / Shelvey 18', Perez 75'

Leicester City were beaten for the first time in seven Premier League games at King Power Stadium following a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United.

Claude Puel made two changes to the side that beat Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend, as Adrien Silva and Fousseni Diabaté both returned to the starting XI.

City fans were invited to celebrate Chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s 60th birthday with free beer, water and chocolate coins, while fireworks lit up the King Power Stadium sky ahead of kick-off.

Newcastle set the pace early on, as Kasper Schmeichel turned Ayoze Perez’s header behind following the lively Kenedy’s pin-point corner.

Skipper Wes Morgan then came just inches away from connecting with Ben Chilwell’s floated cross – perhaps Leicester’s best goalscoring opportunity of the first half.

But the Magpies, who headed into the game having recorded back-to-back wins, broke the deadlock shortly after as Jonjo Shelvey curled in from the edge of the box.

A huge refereeing decision followed with seven minutes of the first half to play.

After a fine turn in the centre of midfield, Silva found Riyad Mahrez, who appeared to be fouled by Paul Dummett in the Newcastle box – nothing given.

Another blow for City came before half-time, as Vicente Iborra was forced off due to injury.

The Spaniard was replaced by Academy graduate Hamza Choudhury, who made his second Premier League appearance in Leicester colours.

After the break, Dwight Gayle curled a free kick over the bar, while efforts from Silva and Mahrez were blocked as City went in search of a leveller.

However, despite looking good value for an equaliser, Puel’s men fell 2-0 behind after Perez lifted the ball over the onrushing Schmeichel.

Shinji Okazaki and Demarai Gray’s introductions were positive ones.

With six minutes to play, they combined well to set up Jamie Vardy, who fired home from close range – his 16th strike of the Premier League campaign.

But the Foxes could not find a second goal as Rafael Benitez’s men returned to Newcastle with all three Premier League points.

Burnley 2 City 1Turf MoorPremier LeagueSaturday 14 AprilWood 6', Long' / Vardy 72'

An industrious Leicester City display was not enough to prevent Burnley from securing a fifth consecutive Premier League victory at Turf Moor.

The Clarets raced ahead inside 10 minutes, courtesy of efforts from ex-City forward Chris Wood and Kevin Long, before Jamie Vardy’s 20th strike of the season narrowed the arrears later on.

Claude Puel made three changes from last weekend’s 2-1 defeat by Newcastle United with Vicente Iborra, Fousseni Diabaté and Marc Albrighton missing out.

Shinji Okazaki and Demarai Gray returned to the starting line-up in Lancashire while Hamza Choudhury continued his first team education from the start on his full Premier League debut.

A frustrating opening handed City with an unenviable task as Wood slotted Sean Dyche’s hosts ahead before Long, with a thunderous header, beat Kasper Schmeichel from close range.

Leicester, though, refused to relent as they improved as the game went on with Vardy and Riyad Mahrez both testing Nick Pope, who impressed again in the Burnley net.

City’s best opportunity of the opening 45 minutes came shortly after the half-hour mark as Ben Chilwell lofted a superb cross into Mahrez at the back post, but Pope held onto it well.

Before the interval, the Algerian was inches away from repeating his free-kick exploits of weeks gone by. However, an excellent attempt, aimed towards the top right corner, whistled just wide.

Pope was called upon with half-an-hour to go, getting down to prevent Vardy from locating the bottom corner, and half-time substitute Kelechi Iheanacho was also making an impact later on.

It was the Nigeria international who laid it up for Vardy to register his 20th goal of the season in the 72nd minute, picking the England striker out to drive it into the roof of the net from the edge of the box.

As Leicester pressed for a late equaliser, Vardy was unfortunate not to get a touch on Diabaté’s excellent searching cross from the left flank. In the end, it missed everybody in the Burnley area.

With four minutes remaining, Schmeichel was forced to leave the field, following a collision with Ashley Barnes.

City 0 Southampton 0King Power StadiumPremier LeagueThursday 19 April

Leicester City were held to a goalless Premier League draw by a defiant Southampton outfit at King Power Stadium .

Claude Puel made five changes to the side that faced Burnley, with Ben Hamer, Aleksandar Dragović, Marc Albrighton, Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho replacing Kasper Schmeichel, Wes Morgan, Danny Simpson, Hamza Choudhury and Shinji Okazaki.

On top from the off, the Foxes had their first major opportunity of the game as Alex McCarthy got down low to get hold an effort from Riyad Mahrez.

Shortly after, Iheanacho nearly bent a strike into the bottom corner at the second time of asking, while at the other end, Dusan Tadic fired off target for the Saints.

A lovely phase of play followed from City, but Adrien Silva could not round it off – the Portugal international seeing his 25-yard shot blocked in the area.

After the break, Hamer had to pull off a brilliant front-post stop to ensure City didn’t fall behind, as the 30-year-old ‘keeper spread himself well to deny Shane Long.

City’s best chance of the second half fell to Jamie Vardy, who skippered the team.

A superb long pass from Albrighton found the No.9, who nearly replicated his strike against West Bromwich Albion last month, but McCarthy stood in his way.

The introduction of attacker Fousseni Diabaté proved to be a positive one for Puel’s men, as he drilled into the side-netting following a darting run down the left wing late on.

Academy graduates Hamza Choudhury and Harvey Barnes – the latter making his Premier League debut for the Club – came on in injury time and while Barnes came close to connecting with a Ben Chilwell cross, there would be no breakthrough on Filbert Way.

Crystal Palace 5 City 0Selhurst ParkPremier LeagueSaturday 28 AprilZaha 17', McArthur 38', Loftus-Cheek 81', Van Aanholt 84', Benteke 90' (pen)

Leicester City were defeated 5-0 by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in the Premier League.

Goals from Wilfried Zaha and James McArthur handed the Eagles a two-goal advantage at the interval but City’s plight deepened when Marc Albrighton was sent off in the 56th minute.

In the final 10 minutes, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Patrick van Aanholt added their names to the scoresheet before substitute Christian Benteke struck from the penalty spot.

City made two changes from the 0-0 draw with Southampton at King Power Stadium just over a week ago, with Wes Morgan and Hamza Choudhury replacing Aleksandar Dragović and Adrien Silva.

A fast-paced opening 15 minutes paid witness to both sides forging scoring opportunities with Kelechi Iheanacho heading over and Jamie Vardy being denied on the line by full back Joel Ward.

Iheanacho was also called upon to scramble it off Ben Hamer’s line at the other end from a downward James Tomkins header, but Palace would soon make a breakthrough.

In the 17th minute, Yohan Cabaye spun on the spot and flicked it into McArthur, who found Zaha, before the twice-capped England international curled it deep into the bottom corner.

While the Foxes did initially recover well, Roy Hodgson’s hosts doubled their lead with seven minutes of the first half to go as Zaha laid it on for McArthur to drill it into the far corner.

Silva and Fousseni Diabaté were introduced at the break, coming in for Choudhury and Iheanacho before Wilfred Ndidi was later forced off with a knock, making way for Dragović.

With City having utilised all three of their allotted substitutions, Albrighton was adjudged by referee Mike Dean to have felled Zaha, the last man, 30 yards out from City’s goal.

After deliberating with his linesman, the referee ultimately elected to brandish a straight red card for the 28-year-old, who was playing at right back.

With nine minutes to go, Mamadou Sakho’s incisive pass found Loftus-Cheek, allowing the Chelsea loanee to sidestep Hamer and convert Palace’s third goal of the afternoon.

Following Van Aanholt’s cool finish from the edge of City’s penalty area, Harry Maguire was deemed to have bundled Benteke to the floor in the box, resulting in a 90th-minute spot-kick.

The former Liverpool striker stepped up and powered it home in the final act of a day to forget for the Foxes.

City 0 West Ham United 2King Power StadiumPremier LeagueSaturday 5 MayMario 34', Noble 64'

Goals from Joao Mario and Mark Noble saw West Ham United beat Leicester City 0-2 at King Power Stadium.

Claude Puel made five changes to his starting XI, as Yohan Benalouane made his first Premier League appearance of the season, Vicente Iborra returned to action following a hamstring injury and Academy graduate Hamza Choudhury made a second straight start in England's top flight.

The Hammers started the clash with real intent as Manuel Lanzini had a shot blocked before Pablo Zabaleta headed wide inside the opening 15 minutes.

City responded well as Portugal international midfielder Adrien Silva had a shot blocked – the loose ball nearly fell to Jamie Vardy, but West Ham stopper Adrian was there to collect.

At the other end, Ben Hamer did brilliantly to race out and block Marko Arnautović’s effort at the front post on the half-hour mark.

Shortly after, Arnautović sent a fine volley crashing onto the crossbar before turning provider just moments later to set up Mario, who hooked home from close range to open the scoring.

Early on in the second period, Vardy was denied a goalscoring opportunity after Aaron Cresswell handled the ball on the edge of the area, but the left back remained on the pitch after being shown a yellow card.

With 60 minutes on the clock, the introduction of Kelechi Iheanacho and Demarai Gray provided fresh legs going forward.

However, David Moyes’ men doubled their advantage four minutes later as Noble fired a sensational volley into the bottom corner, giving Hamer no chance.

Benalouane came close to pulling one back late on for City, but Adrian was on hand to make a decent stop to prevent the Tunisia international from finding the back of the net.

City 3 Arsenal 1King Power StadiumPremier LeagueWednesday 9 MayIheanacho 14', Vardy 76' (pen), Mahrez 90' / Aubameyang 53'

Leicester City’s final home fixture of the 2017/18 Premier League campaign resulted in a superb 3-1 victory over Arsenal at King Power Stadium.

The Foxes’ first win over the Gunners in England’s top flight for over two decades came courtesy of a stunning performance on Filbert Way.

Claude Puel made three changes to the side that were beaten last time out, as Kelechi Iheanacho, Eldin Jakupović and Danny Simpson returned to the starting XI – all three were excellent against Arsène Wenger’s men.

With just 14 minutes gone, the returning Iheanacho fired City in front. Christian Fuchs’ cross was nodded down by Fousseni Diabaté, who set up the Nigeria international to break the deadlock.

A minute later, the London outfit were down to 10 men. Iheanacho dispossessed Konstantinos Mavraponos before being hauled down by the defender, who was given his marching orders on the quarter-hour mark.

Dominance followed from City, who went close to double their advantage on a number of occasions, with Harry Maguire, Iheanacho and Adrien Silva all denied by the defiant Petr Cech.

Jakupović was called into action in the first period too, as he first turned away an effort from Henrikh Mkhitaryan before tipping Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s strike wide just moments later.

But for all of City’s brilliance, Aubameyang equalised at the second attempt after converting Jakupović’s initial parry.

Leicester’s tempo did not drop, though, and Puel’s introduction of Demarai Gray proved vital as he won a penalty after being fouled by Mkhitaryan in the Arsenal area.

Jamie Vardy made no mistakes from the spot, sending Cech the wrong way by hammering the ball into the top corner.

Then, in the closing stages, Riyad Mahrez darted towards goal and breezed past defender Rob Holding before slotting under Cech to seal the three points.

Tottenham Hotspur 5 City 4Wembley StadiumPremier LeagueSunday 13 MayKane 7', 76', Lamela 49', 60', Fuchs og 53' / Vardy 4', 73', Mahrez 16', Iheanacho 47'

An incredible Premier League encounter at Wembley Stadium saw Tottenham Hotspur narrowly defeat Leicester City 5-4.

For the clash, Claude Puel handed starts to Vicente Iborra and Demarai Gray, while Academy graduates Layton Ndukwu, Hamza Choudhury and Harvey Barnes were all named as substitutes for the clash in the capital.

After just four minutes, the Foxes were in front as Jamie Vardy headed in a Riyad Mahrez free kick – the No.9's 19th Premier League goal of the season.

But three minutes later, England international Harry Kane side-footed past Eldin Jakupović to level matters in the capital.

Puel’s men regained the lead just after the quarter-hour mark through Mahrez, whose superb finish found into the bottom corner.

With just two minutes of the second period gone, Nigeria frontman Kelechi Iheanacho extended the Leicester advantage with a stunning effort from distance that gave Hugo Lloris no chance.

However, two goals in the space of four minutes saw Tottenham make it 3-3.

Erik Lamela converted Kyle Walker-Peters’ low cross on 49 minutes, before the Argentine's deflected effort found the back of the net via Christian Fuchs.

The game continued to ebb and flow and it appeared to turn in Tottenham’s favour on the hour mark, when Lamela struck again to put Mauricio Pochettino’s men 4-3 up.

Vardy had other ideas. After latching onto a Mahrez pass, he took a touch before rifling into the top corner from a tight angle.

However, three minutes later, Spurs were in front again, as Kane bent a shot into the bottom corner to ultimately seal the points for the hosts.

A fine effort from Vardy followed in injury time, but his half-volley, following a Harry Maguire header, flew over Lloris’ crossbar.

April/May in numbers:

LCFC goals: 9Top scorer: 5League standing: 9th

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