Arsenal 3 – 2 Leicester City – Match report

After suffering last-minute heartbreak last weekend, we enjoyed the spoils of a late victory as Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz scored stoppage-time goals to beat Leicester City in a six-goal thriller.

Gabriel Martinelli scored his first Gunners goal in six months when he netted after 19 minutes and just before the half-time whistle he set up Trossard to double our lead as the winger made amends for his red card at Manchester City last weekend.

However, within a minute of the start of the second half, James Justin saw a deflected header hit the net and in the 63rd minute the right-back scored a great volley to equalize for his side.

An incredible goalkeeping display from Mads Hermansen saw him make save after save as it looked like his team would escape with a point, but Trossard managed to get the ball home and take all three points, before Havertz netted after a counter-attack to round off the mad football afternoon.

Dominance in the first half

Mikel Arteta chose to name the same eleven players who started at City six days ago and our first half performance was the exact opposite of the second 45 at the Etihad Stadium when we had to completely hold off our opponents.

Despite the heavy early pressure, it took us 15 minutes to create a significant chance when Bukayo Saka fired a low shot into the goal, but it was comfortable for Hermansen, and a minute later Bukayo slipped inside Martinelli, but a poor first touch compounded the problem the angle and he sent an effort wide.

But in the 19th minute he made no mistake. Saka was involved again, picking out Jurrien Timber on the right who sent a low pass into the box. He forced his way through a thicket of visiting defenders and fell into Martinelli's path, and his deflected shot was enough to find the bottom corner and put him on the scoresheet for the first time since March and for the third time in a row against today's opponents .

With confidence growing again, Gabi then directed an effort into the goal which Hermansen sent to safety, while Kai Havertz hit a downward header just past the far post, although the goalkeeper was beaten, but just when it seemed we were protecting him We had a one-goal lead at half-time and suddenly we doubled it.

With the clock just past the 45-minute mark, Martinelli crawled into the penalty area and pushed the ball to Trossard, who simply turned his body and redirected the pass into the net, giving the visitors a mountain to climb.

Justin-credible comeback

Leicester had been lackluster in the first half and having won just one of their last 26 away league games in N5, it seemed as if the signs of the times were set, but 68 seconds after the restart they managed to get their foot back in the game to grasp.

William Saliba brought down Jamie Vardy with a free kick that Facundo Buonanotte fired into the box. Justin sent a glancing header into the goal which rebounded past Havertz and deceived David Raya to give Steve Cooper's team a lifeline.

We began to try and restore our healthier lead and only an excellent reaction from Hermansen prevented Gabriel from scoring a header from a corner. The goalkeeper also blocked Riccardo Calafiori's follow-up shot before Timber shot over the goal and Saka then tricked his way into the box, Trossard saw a shot attempt hit the post.

But the Foxes were a completely different team after the break and after Bounanotte went close with two shots after the hour, they managed to equalize with a great shot. There seemed to be little going on when Wilfried Ndidi sent a cross over everyone inside the penalty area, but Justin latched onto it and fired a well-taken volley past Raya, which hit the post on the way into the net.

Hermansen's heroic deeds

The full-back's goals made him the star of the show, but he was overtaken by Hermansen thanks to some outstanding goalkeeping that saw him single-handedly deny us with a series of superb saves in the second half.

First, a deflected Saka shot fell kindly to Havertz, who controlled it, turned and shot at goal, but the Dane showed excellent reactions to deny the German at close range and then, after being caught playing from behind, corrected he made his shot mistake by denying Trossard, who seemed destined to score.

He proved unbeatable and moments after coming on, Ethan Nwaneri had his first Premier League goal denied with a full-length save and then tipped over a header from Calafiori as he enjoyed the game of his life.

Late pleasure

But in the fourth minute of added time the resistance finally broke. Saka hit another dangerous corner into the box that found Trossard at the back post and his side-footed effort was deflected by Ndidi and sneaked into the net, misleading the Emirates.

Then, two minutes later, Gabriel Jesus broke through on goal and shot into the bottom corner. Once again Hermansen made a good stop, but Justin accidentally pushed the rebound into the path of Havertz, who couldn't miss from a few meters away. Goal advantage and level with the league leaders after six games.

What's next?

We return to Champions League action on Tuesday when Paris Saint-Germain come to town for our first home game in the competition, and the following Saturday we host Southampton before the international break begins in October.