Last-Gasp Own Goal Sees Arsenal Defeat City

An incredible moment of misfortune saw Leicester City narrowly beaten 1-0 by Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening. 

For nearly 90 minutes, the Foxes repelled everything Arsene Wenger’s men threw at them, while they were also close to breaking the deadlock at the other end during an entertaining encounter in north London. 

Jamie Vardy struck the side-netting inside the opening 10 minutes, before both goalkeepers were called into action shortly after. Kasper Schmeichel parried Francis Coquelin’s low drive to safety six minutes prior to a stunning stop from Petr Cech. 

A long throw from Christian Fuchs eventually dropped to Riyad Mahrez, who from close range forced Arsenal’s ‘keeper into a point-blank save on the line. Just moments later, the Algerian then curled into the side-netting. 

Arsenal began to pile on the pressure towards the end of the first period. Schmeichel had to tip Theo Walcott’s half-volley behind, while Alexis Sanchez hammered a dipping 25-yard effort onto the crossbar. 

A trio of Schmeichel saves saw the Dane deny Granit Xhaka, Laurent Koscielny and Sanchez in quick succession, before Vardy sent an effort straight at Cech following a neat turn from the striker. 

Substitute Shinji Okazaki then found space in the right channel and managed to get a shot off, only for Gabriel to throw himself in the way of the Japan international striker’s low drive with Vardy lurking. 

Then came the winning goal. Nacho Monreal connected with a cross from the right and his half-volley deflected off defender Robert Huth and into the back of the net with just four minutes of the second half to play. 

City did not give up, though, and felt they should have been awarded a penalty following a goalmouth scramble in the Arsenal area. Okazaki flicked a shot towards goal and Koscielny got in the way of it – the ball appeared to hit the Frenchman’s arm, but the decision went the other way and Arsenal held out for the win.  

Major moment 

Despite looking solid throughout the 90 minutes, City’s back line was eventually breached, albeit in unfortunate circumstances. 

Should earlier efforts from Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and Shinji Okazaki have gone in, the result could have been completely different. 

But the Foxes struggled to clear a series of Arsenal deliveries late on and were cruelly punished. Nacho Monreal had a little too much space on the edge of the box and managed to get his shot off. Robert Huth, superb throughout, was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

Who impressed? 

One of Leicester City’s most consistent performers this campaign has been goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and he proved that again on Wednesday evening. 

The Denmark international denied Francis Coquelin, Theo Walcott, Alexis Sanchez, Granit Xhaka and Laurent Koscielny and was desperately unlucky not to emerge from the fixture with a first clean sheet in five outings. 

It is also important to note that as a unit, Leicester City defended incredibly well against an Arsenal side that is renowned for its ability to maintain possession. 

Where do we stand? 

The gap to the bottom three remains six points and the Foxes still have a game in hand on eight sides that sit around them in the Premier League table. 

Such is the tight nature of the table’s current standings, a victory in City’s next outing could potentially see them move into the top half. 

Coming up… 

The Premier League champions were edged 2-1 at King Power Stadium in their last meeting with the Baggies back in November.