Arsenal Vs Leicester City: 5 things we learned – Positives despite disappointment

3. Clinical touch required

Arsenal were excellent in the first half. They controlled the game with a suffocating high press, moved the ball quickly in possession, and created numerous chances when bursting into the final third.

The front three were especially dangerous. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made darting runs in behind the Leicester defence. Bukayo Saka was direct when he received the ball to feet and delivered accurate passes, through-balls and crosses. Alexandre Lacazette’s movement was supreme and his hold-up play was critical to the combination play between the trio. But crucially, they scored just the one goal, which Mikel Arteta rightly rued in his post-match interview:

“I’m extremely proud of our team and the way we played against this type of opposition with how dominant we were in the first half. But clearly, we should’ve gone three or four-nil up and killed the game. That’s what you have to do with this type of opposition.”

Alexandre Lacazette missed a simple header. Kasper Schmeichel procured a terrific save to deny Lacazette, too. Bukayo Saka also had a strong opportunity that he struck a little unconvincingly on his right side. Against excellent teams, you have to be clinical. Arsenal weren’t and they were punished.

<p>Here are five things we learned from <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/07/arsenal-vs-leicester-city-5-things-learned-positives-despite-disappointment/3/"https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/53283237">the 1-1 draw</a>.</p> <div id="attachment_103144" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-103144" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/07/arsenal-vs-leicester-city-5-things-learned-positives-despite-disappointment/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1254875532-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 07: Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal leaves the pitch following being shown a red card after a VAR decision during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Leicester City at Emirates Stadium on July 07, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h4>5. Don’t blame Nketiah</h4> <p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/07/arsenal-vs-leicester-city-5-things-learned-positives-despite-disappointment/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=eddie+nketiah%22>Eddie Nketiah</a> came on for Alexandre Lacazette in the 71st minute. 90 seconds later, he was stretching for a loose ball and strikes the inside of James Justin’s leg with his studs. By the 75th minute, he was trudging back down the tunnel following VAR overturning the initial yellow card decision.</p> <p>The red card changed the game, and as soon as Nketiah left the pitch it left Arsenal scrambling to defend their lead. Leicester moved the ball well, eventually found Jamie Vardy in the penalty area, and snatched the equaliser. It left the Gunners ruing what could have been had Nketiah just controlled himself that little bit more.</p> <p>Any blame for Nketiah, though, is utterly misplaced. He was brought on to chase loose balls and harass the Leicester defenders. He very nearly nicked the ball away from Justin and would have burst into space. Arteta would be more upset with Nketiah had he not challenged for the ball. It was a bad tackle that deserved a red card, but Nketiah is not to blame for these dropped points.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/07/arsenal-vs-leicester-city-5-things-learned-positives-despite-disappointment/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 4. Dani Ceballos can be midfield solution </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_103131" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-103131" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/07/arsenal-vs-leicester-city-5-things-learned-positives-despite-disappointment/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1254868208-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 07: Dani Ceballos of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Leicester City at Emirates Stadium on July 07, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h4>4. Dani Ceballos can be midfield solution</h4> <p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/07/arsenal-vs-leicester-city-5-things-learned-positives-despite-disappointment/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=dani+ceballos%22>Dani Ceballos</a> has produced these types of performances before. He was excellent against Burnley at the start of the season. He was then superb against Norwich City last month. Few doubted that he was capable performing at the level that he did on Tuesday night. What was questioned was whether he could be consistent.</p> <p>This the change in Ceballos’ performance level: he is consistently impacting and controlling games, not enjoying a brilliant performance and then going quiet three days later. It is why he can be Arsenal’s long-term midfield solution.</p> <p>Where Matteo Guendouzi has fallen out of favour and Granit Xhaka has severe limitations, despite his mostly decent form under Mikel Arteta, Ceballos marries the pair’s talent and character. He is committed, he works hard, he does not possess the same weaknesses as Xhaka, and he is still growing and improving. If consistency comes, and at this stage it has, he can be the long-term answer to the central midfield issues.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/07/arsenal-vs-leicester-city-5-things-learned-positives-despite-disappointment/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 3. Clinical touch required </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_103142" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-103142" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/07/arsenal-vs-leicester-city-5-things-learned-positives-despite-disappointment/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1254868682-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 07: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal jumps for a header during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Leicester City at Emirates Stadium on July 07, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h4>3. Clinical touch required</h4> <p>Arsenal were excellent in the first half. They controlled the game with a suffocating high press, moved the ball quickly in possession, and created numerous chances when bursting into the final third.</p> <div class="recent-posts "> <h4>More from <b>Pain in the Arsenal</b></h4> <ul> <li> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/07/arsenal-vs-leicester-city-5-things-learned-positives-despite-disappointment/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/arsenal-interest-miguel-gutierrez-girona/"> Fabrizio Romano confirms Arsenal interest in Girona star </a> </li><li> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/07/arsenal-vs-leicester-city-5-things-learned-positives-despite-disappointment/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/when-will-martin-odegaard-return-from-his-injury/"> When will Martin Odegaard return from his injury? </a> </li><li> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/07/arsenal-vs-leicester-city-5-things-learned-positives-despite-disappointment/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/2-midfielders-arsenal-could-sign-in-january-transfer-window/"> 2 midfielders Arsenal could sign in January transfer window </a> </li><li> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/07/arsenal-vs-leicester-city-5-things-learned-positives-despite-disappointment/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/thomas-partey-unlikely-to-play-for-arsenal-again-in-2023/"> Thomas Partey unlikely to play for Arsenal again in 2023 </a> </li><li> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/07/arsenal-vs-leicester-city-5-things-learned-positives-despite-disappointment/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/predicted-arsenal-lineup-vs-burnley-saka-fit-to-start/"> Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Burnley: Saka fit to start? </a> </li></ul> </div> <p>The front three were especially dangerous. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made darting runs in behind the Leicester defence. Bukayo Saka was direct when he received the ball to feet and delivered accurate passes, through-balls and crosses. Alexandre Lacazette’s movement was supreme and his hold-up play was critical to the combination play between the trio. But crucially, they scored just the one goal, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/07/arsenal-vs-leicester-city-5-things-learned-positives-despite-disappointment/3/"https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1280617566512136192">which Mikel Arteta rightly rued in his post-match interview</a>:</p> <blockquote class="left ampstart-">“I’m extremely proud of our team and the way we played against this type of opposition with how dominant we were in the first half. But clearly, we should’ve gone three or four-nil up and killed the game. That’s what you have to do with this type of opposition.”</blockquote> <p>Alexandre Lacazette missed a simple header. Kasper Schmeichel procured a terrific save to deny Lacazette, too. Bukayo Saka also had a strong opportunity that he struck a little unconvincingly on his right side. Against excellent teams, you have to be clinical. Arsenal weren’t and they were punished.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/07/arsenal-vs-leicester-city-5-things-learned-positives-despite-disappointment/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 2. The high press is back </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_103132" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-103132" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/07/arsenal-vs-leicester-city-5-things-learned-positives-despite-disappointment/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1225252117-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">(Photo by ADAM DAVY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h4>2. The high press is back</h4> <p>Mikel Arteta has been keen to implement a high-pressing defensive structure at Arsenal. As he stated after the victory over Wolves, however, in which the team stepped off the gas in the second half, he does not yet have the quality of personnel to play in that manner for a full 90 minutes. They have to manage the game in a more conservative manner.</p> <p>On this occasion, though, the high press was back in full force. The front three worked immensely hard, pressing every Leicester touch. The back three pushed up, the wing-backs matched up against their opposite number, and Arsenal suffocated Leicester throughout the entire pitch. They became very difficult to play through and forced numerous turnovers through panicked, poor clearances.</p> <p>In the second half, Arsenal dropped off a little more, especially following Eddie Nketiah’s red card. But it was noticeable how much more eager and intense they played without the ball before the break. Arteta wants his team to press high, and this was their most effective high press since the restart.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/07/arsenal-vs-leicester-city-5-things-learned-positives-despite-disappointment/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 1. Champions League hopes over? </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_103143" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-103143" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/07/arsenal-vs-leicester-city-5-things-learned-positives-despite-disappointment/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1225257164-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">(Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h4>1. Champions League hopes over?</h4> <p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/07/arsenal-vs-leicester-city-5-things-learned-positives-despite-disappointment/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=mikel+arteta%22>Mikel Arteta</a> has routinely said that he still hopes his team can recover their Champions League position. It was always looking like a tough task in the circumstances and given the ground Arsenal needed to make up. Now, it seems almost impossible.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia"> <div id="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-position="slideshow_inline" data-slot="inline_103118" style="width:300px;margin: 0 auto;"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.defineSlot("/175840252/fansided.com/PainintheArsenal/mpu",[300, 250], "minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet") .addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.enableServices(); googletag.display("minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet"); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p>Chelsea moved ten points clear and need just one more win to assure their position above the Gunners. Leicester, too, need only one more win to all but secure their finish above Arsenal (their goal difference is +24 superior). And then Manchester United and Wolves both have a game in hand and can move eight and five points clear respectively.</p> <p>Spurs, too, and Sheffield United, who play one another on Wednesday night, can move ahead of Arsenal with a victory. Sunday’s North London Derby does mean, however, that if Arsenal win all their remaining matches they are assured to finish above their rivals for the first time in four seasons.</p> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Arsenal Vs Leicester City: Player ratings" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/07/arsenal-leicester-city-player-ratings/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/07/arsenal-vs-leicester-city-5-things-learned-positives-despite-disappointment/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/07/arsenal-leicester-city-player-ratings/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Arsenal Vs Leicester City: Player ratings </a> </div> </div> <p>The Champions League, then, now seems out of reach. And that leaves the club lurching in financial uncertainty. For all of the progress made on the pitch, is not the ideal start to the Arteta rebuild.</p><!—pageview_candidate—></p>">