At times, it felt like Arsenal vs Mads Hermansen. As he dived one way then the next, the Danish goalkeeper had become the architect for Leicester to nearly walk away with something.
It was James Justin’s outrageous first-time volley off Wilfred Ndidi’s cross, rocketing into a bottom corner at pace, that equalised the score at 2-2. Hermansen, however, pulled off a series of saves beyond the call of order to keep his team so close to hanging on.
The 24-year-old must’ve watched a David Raya compilation tape from this season. The heroics today were nearly in that bracket.
There was a save to parry a headed Gabriel effort — he’s been lethal from corners recently, scoring against Manchester City and Tottenham — over the bar.
A sprawl to tip Leandro Trossard’s effort onto a post, and denying Kai Havertz’s swivel volley from point-blank range, were part of the compilation, too.
Arsenal beat Leicester City 4-2 on Saturday afternoon after scoring twice in added time
Leandro Trossard scored two of the Gunners’ four goals, including one in the 94th minute
Trossard was mobbed by his Arsenal team-mates after restoring their lead in added time
It is why, when leaving the Emirates, he’ll have felt aghast at walking away with nothing. They remain without a Premier League point this season so far. An early concern indeed.
Ndidi’s injury-time own goal — Trossard’s strike from a Bukayo Saka corner had deflected off the Leicester man’s leg — secured Arsenal the win on a day which they were far away from top gear.
The Gunners had 36 shots, 16 of those on targets. That would usually equate to a drubbing, not 2-2 — up until the 94thminute, where that own goal and then Kai Havertz added gloss to a misleading scoreline.
Hermansen was in inspired form but, nevertheless, the Gunners should have been more clinical. Against most other sides, particularly their rivals, they would have been punished.
To Leicester’s credit, they were poor in the first half but hung on and made use of the three shots on target they had in the game. For Arsenal, aside from winning, it will have been Gabriel Martinelli’s performance that brought joy.
The 23-year-old had a tremendous breakout 2022-23 season, registering 15 league goals and five assists. He was firmly in the minds of Gooners. Since then, those heights have been a struggle to reach.
Last season was plagued by injury and flat displays. This campaign has shown glimpses of promise, but still missing the end product element.
Today, he was back to close his best. The Brazilian was central to most of the north London club’s attacks and looked full of confidence, something that has been lacking of late.
He struck Arsenal’s first, skewing the ball into a corner from close range, before assisting Trossard for the second goal.
Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber resumed as the left-back pairing following the 2-2 league draw with Manchester City last Sunday.
Raya started in net. Mikel Arteta had suggested on Friday that his goalkeeper was facing a late fitness test — this was exaggerated, Raya having been close to playing against Bolton midweek in the Carabao Cup third round against Bolton.
Steve Cooper’s Leicester were in a mire; yet to pick a point up in the league and crawling through the Carabao Cup earlier in the week against League Two Walsall on penalties.
Leicester City goalkeeper Mads Hermansen frustrated Arsenal for much of the contest
Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring on Saturday by netting his first club goal since March
Martinelli was congratulated by his team-mates, including Riccardo Calafiori (second right)
The Gunners were also seeking a sixth-consecutive victory against the Foxes. So, the tide was, prior to kick-off, heading in one direction.
The absence of talisman Martin Odegaard, who is often at the fore of their best work, was not expected to come into account.
Though there was a certain consideration for the home side to take into account: Jamie Vardy.
The 37-year-old had boasted 11 goals in 16 against the Gunners in all competitions. A fixture that brings the best out of the veteran striker, and something that could not be ignored.
Arsenal started well and would not let the ball out of the opposition’s half, passing it around the blue shirts at will.
Captain Saka complained about being pushed by Caleb Okoli on the byline after three minutes, which referee Sam Barratt ignored.
Both of Leicester’s goals at the Emirates Stadium were scored by full back James Justin (right)
But Kai Havertz’s late clincher ensured that the Foxes left north London without a point
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta (left) pictured celebrating with Trossard after Saturday’s game
From there, Saka kept driving forward, orchestrating attacks at ease. The inevitable opening goal arrived on 20 minutes, Saka’s pass reaching Timber on the wing and the full back crossing on the floor towards Martinelli in the box.
The Brazilian scuffed his shot into the bottom left corner, the ball slowly tricking into the net.
Soon after, Martinelli had another attempt after being left wide open, but this shot was parried out.
Kai Havertz had a header go centimetres past the post before Trossard got on the scoresheet, converting Martinelli’s pass first-time in the box, to end a first half of utter dominance.
It is why Leicester’s goal, two minutes after the restart, shook the Arsenal players and the Emirates by surprise.
Facundo Buonanotte took a whipped free-kick outside the box and Justin rose to it, heading it goalwards with the ball brushing Havertz’s shoulder and going in.
James had seriously shocked Arsenal by putting Leicester on the verge of an important point
But Arsenal eventually came out on top and Bukayo Saka was able to celebrate after the game
It was a wake-up call. Gabriel had a header saved well by Hermansen, the follow-ups by Calafiori and Timber also to no avail for the home side.
Hermansen then denied Trossard, pushing his shot onto the post. Leicester got their equaliser from that ridiculous Justin volley and the tide had well and truly turned.
That was until Trossard, along with Havertz’s consolation strike which required a VAR check, saved the day for Arsenal at the end.
