Arsenal 2-1 Leicester: Returning Welbeck Scores Last Gasp Winner to Beat 10-Man Foxes

• 3 k

ByScott Saunders

14 Feb 2016

Arsenal closed the gap on league leaders Leicester City to two points on Sunday afternoon, after the returning Danny Welbeck scored a last-gasp header to earn a 2-1 win at the Emirates.

Leicester had fought hard 'til the death and had taken the lead through Jamie Vardy's first half penalty, but Danny Simpson's red card after the break proved a turning point. Theo Walcott struck an equaliser before Welbeck popped up with virtually the last action of the game to earn three points.

The home side started the day five points behind Claudio Ranieri's Foxes, who sat clear at the top after last weekend's win at Manchester City. Their attempts to catch the visitors cold nearly paid dividends, but Alexis Sanchez could only divert a header wide of the post after good work by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Arsenal took over in the possession stakes for most of the first half, but that's something Leicester will have been expecting. Much like last week, they proved difficult to break down and potent on the break, and their high pressing game really caught the eye. N'Golo Kante and Danny Drinkwater in particular shone for their drive, energy and commitment. 

Kante was quite literally everywhere. Having taken 47 first half touches, he proved a thorn in Arsenal's side and Leicester's main weapon to combat Arsenal's intricate play. The goalkeepers at both ends played their own parts when called into action, and visiting captain Wes Morgan remained solid as a rock too - making a number of crucial blocks and interceptions.
The first goal of the game, however, came on the stroke of half time. Unsurprisingly, Kante was involved in the build up, beating Laurent Koscielny (who was then replaced at the interval) to the ball in the Arsenal half. He powered forward and found Vardy, who was then tripped in the area by Nacho Monreal. The decision was clear, and Vardy smashed the ball home to give Leicester a half time lead.

Riyad Mahrez nearly earned another penalty out of the Spaniard early in the second half, but just minutes later Simpson picked up two bookings in quick succession - and found himself sent off with the better part of 35 minutes to go. Considering Arsenal were already cranking up the pressure, this was to prove Leicester's acid test.

Ranieri switched things around and left Vardy to fend for himself up front, but after the red card it was one way traffic in the other direction. Arsenal spent most of the rest of the game in Leicester's final third, and after waves of pressure the Gunners finally earned their equaliser with twenty minutes to play.

Substitute Theo Walcott grabbed the goal after turning in a brilliantly cushioned header from Olivier Giroud, but there was no time to celebrate. Arsenal wanted the victory and continued to test Leicester's mettle. Per Mertesacker and Aaron Ramsey flashed good chances wide, while the returning Danny Welbeck was unable to find the breakthrough as Kasper Schmeichel stood firm.

He was called into action with two minutes to go, and made the finest save of the lot to deny Giroud from point-blank range. It had looked as though Leicester had done enough to earn a point, but the returning Welbeck popped up to meet Ozil's cross and send the Emirates into hysterics.