Arsenal 2 - 1 Leicester City

Arsenal 2 - 1 Leicester City

Arsenal: Koscielny 27′ Walcott 41′

Leicester City: Kramaric 61′




Arsenal moved into the Premier League top four with a nervous victory over bottom club Leicester City.


Mesut Ozil whipped in a corner for Laurent Koscielny to tap in from close range and later saw a shot saved, allowing Theo Walcott to volley home.
But the Foxes rallied and Andrej Kramaric scored a first goal in English football with a low shot from 12 yards.

He was also denied by David Ospina when clean through late on. Leicester are now five points adrift of safety.
It has been an eventful four days at Leicester, who were promoted from the Championship in May.

Manager Nigel Pearson was reportedly sacked on Sunday, only for the club to issue a statement denying widespread reports of his dismissal and before kick-off he discovered he would not be charged for an apparent touchline grapple with James McArthur during Leicester's loss to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The 51-year-old sat in the stands for the opening period and joked with Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, but the harsh reality that Leicester have been bottom for over two months will escape neither man.

Pearson called for positivity before kick off and his side threatened until the final whistle, but Arsenal's quality in the final third - not least from Ozil, who competed 88% of his passes - was telling.
The German - making his 50th start - created an early opening for Theo Walcott, saw a poked shot tipped wide and from the resulting corner, Koscielny scored his third goal of the season.

The French defender had ample space to side foot in, ensuring Pearson's side remain on just four clean sheets this season.
Alexis Sanchez - back after a hamstring injury - had shots blocked but moments after Leicester's Riyad Mahrez had fired his third shot of the half just wide, Mark Schwarzer's parry from Ozil's long-range shot allowed Walcott to fire across the keeper from 12 yards to score.
Arsene Wenger's side move into the Premier League top four - where they have finished for 17 straight seasons - but Kramaric will rue his chance to deliver the point his side's endeavour arguably deserved.

He squeezed a shot through bodies and low into the net to give Leicester some hope and when released late on by the impressive Mahrez - who went close four times on the night - could only chip into the hands of Ospina.
It was a glorious chance and the difference between a crucial away point and Arsenal displacing Manchester United in the top four.


BBC Sport