Arsenal overcame a second-half scare to defeat Leicester City 4-2 in a thrilling Premier League encounter at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, with two stoppage-time goals sealing the win after the Gunners had squandered a two-goal lead.
The match began with Arsenal dominating possession against a defensive Leicester side. The breakthrough came in the 20th minute when Gabriel Martinelli emphatically tucked away Jurrien Timber’s cross, giving the hosts a deserved lead.
Arsenal doubled their advantage just before halftime. Martinelli turned provider, setting up Leandro Trossard, who finished with precision to make it 2-0. The Belgian’s goal was particularly significant, coming a week after his red card at Manchester City.
The game took a dramatic turn after the break. Leicester, who had managed just one shot in the first half, pulled a goal back two minutes into the second half. James Justin’s free-kick took a huge deflection off Kai Havertz, wrong-footing Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.
Despite Arsenal’s attempts to restore their two-goal cushion, with Gabriel’s header forcing a save from Mads Hermansen and Trossard hitting the post, it was Leicester who struck next. Justin scored his second with a stunning volley on the hour mark, silencing the home crowd and leveling the score at 2-2.
The match seemed headed for a draw until Arsenal’s late surge. In the 94th minute, a corner led to a goalmouth scramble, with the ball eventually crossing the line off Leicester’s Wilfred Ndidi. Havertz then sealed the victory five minutes later, poking into an empty net to make it 4-2.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed relief and pride after the match: “We showed great character to come back and win after letting our lead slip. It’s these kinds of victories that can define a season.”
Leicester boss Enzo Maresca lamented his team’s late collapse: “We fought hard to get back into the game, but those last few minutes were cruel. We need to learn to see out these tight matches.”
The win keeps Arsenal in the title race, closing the gap on league leaders Manchester City. For Leicester, the defeat is a setback in their bid for European qualification.
Notable performances came from Martinelli, who scored one and assisted another, and Justin, whose brace nearly earned Leicester a point. The match also saw young Arsenal substitute Ethan Nwaneri make an impact, forcing a save from Hermansen. This roller-coaster of a game served as a reminder of the Premier League’s unpredictable nature and Arsenal’s
