Player ratings as late strikes spare Gunners’ blushes

Arsenal produced two stoppage-time strikes to beat Leicester 4-2 on Saturday afternoon, having surrendered a two-goal lead in the second half.

The Gunners strolled to a two-goal half-time lead against an apathetic Leicester side with composed efforts from Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard putting the Gunners in complete control.

However, they inexplicably surrendered their lead after the break as James Justin scored twice, with Trossard and Kai Havertz scoring in the dying minutes to spare their blushes and close the gap on Manchester City.

How the game unfolded

Arsenal dominated the early proceedings as Leicester sat inside their own penalty area but it took until 15 minutes for the hosts to trouble Mads Hermansen’s goal. Bukayo Saka’s distance effort was dealt with comfortably by the goalkeeper and he was surprisingly untested as Martinelli fired over the crossbar from close range 30 seconds later.

However, the Brazilian winger made no mistake in the 20th minute as he fired the Gunners ahead. Jurrien Timber’s accurate cross to the penalty spot was tucked away emphatically by Martinelli, with Jamie Vardy and Steve Cooper picking up yellow cards in the aftermath as Leicester felt they should have been awarded a free kick prior to the opener.

Martinelli could have doubled his tally halfway through the first period but his effort was parried by the increasingly busy Hermansen, with Kai Havertz’s header falling inches wide of the far post ten minutes later.

But Martinelli turned into the provider in first-half stoppage time as Arsenal grabbed a crucial and deserved second moments before the whistle. Martinelli feathered a pass towards Trossard inside the penalty area and the Belgian redeemed himself for his red card at the Etihad Stadium last weekend with a pinpoint side-footed finish.

Having produced just one shot of any description in the first half, Leicester somehow reduced the deficit just two minutes after half-time. An attacking free kick was redirected goalward by James Justin and a huge deflection off Havertz wrong-footed David Raya in the Arsenal goal.

Arsenal almost restored their cushion just eight minutes after the restart and it was unsurprisingly a corner that caused chaos. Gabriel’s powerful header was rebuffed by Hermansen and Riccardo Calafiori’s subsequent effort was eventually scrambled clear by the Leicester defence.

However, despite Trossard clipping the post in the 53rd minute, it was Leicester who produced a stunning leveller…