Our 3️⃣ points after an impressive Arsenal beat Leicester | OneFootball

Arsenal came from behind to earn an impressive 3-1 win over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.

Youri Tielemans had put the hosts ahead before David Luiz, Alexandre Lacazette from the penalty spot and Nicolas Pépé completed the turnaround for the Gunners.

Here are our main takeaways from the game.

Perfect afternoon for the Gunners

Mikel Arteta has had a fantastic afternoon.

The Spaniard managed to have the luxury of resting Bukayo Saka, Thomas Partey and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (for the most part) and has still come away from Leicester with the three points.

This was arguably Arsenal’s best performance of the season so far and they did it with a number of so-called fringe players in the starting line-up.

Nicolas Pépé continued his renaissance with a lively outing on the right-hand side and whisper it quietly, but even Willian was on form, providing two assists along the way.

Rotation was necessary, and the team selection perhaps suggested that Arteta’s priorities lie with the Europa League, but this result means that European qualification through the league isn’t out of the question.

Var from his best

Jamie Vardy has scored 11 goals in his previous 12 meetings with Arsenal and would’ve been licking his lips when he saw he was lining up against Pablo Marí and David Luiz.

Arsenal fans feared the impending doom pre-match but it never came.

It’s very rare that the 34-year-old goes 90 minutes without mustering a shot on goal and it’s testament to the way the Gunners’ defence handle him that he did just that today.

The Gunners’ defensive line was never too high, starving Vardy from the kind of space that he feasts upon, and even when he did get away in the second half Marí showed great recovery speed to catch up and frustrate his opponent.

Arsenal’s defence has received criticism this season but this was a very impressive showing.

History repeating itself?

Leicester City have had a horrific week.

The Foxes suffered a shock exit to Slavia Prague in the Europa League in midweek but entered this match as favourites, especially considering Mikel Arteta’s team selection.

It all looked rosy in the garden when Youri Tielemans fired them ahead after seven minutes but that moment on they capitulated.

Add to that the fact Harvey Barnes, who has been one of the best players in the league in 2021, went off with what looks like a serious injury and Brendan Rodgers will wondering whether a black cat has crossed his path recently.

They still remain in third place despite the defeat but this slip-up has allowed the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and West Ham the chance to close the gap.

Rodgers should be confident that his team can turn it around but he can’t be blamed for fearing that last season could be about to repeat itself.

Leicester stayed in the top four until the final day of the season that time, and he will have to put this right as soon as possible to ensure it doesn’t unravel like that again.