It was nervy and tense, but Arsenal got the three points they craved against Leicester City as Gabriel Martinelli’s second-half strike was enough to seal the victory.
Mikel Arteta’s side got into the groove early, but Leicester did a decent enough job keeping the Gunners at bay for most of the first half.
Leandro Trossard thought he had opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark with a thunderous strike, but again VAR ruined it for the Gunners as Ben White was adjudged to have tangled with Leicester keeper Danny Ward.
Despite dominating the game, Arsenal went into the break level.
But…
It didn’t last long as Trossard latched onto a superb long ball from Gabriel, and the Belgian found Martinelli with a nutmeg pass—the Brazilian slotted home impressively to give Arsenal the lead.
That would be the game’s only goal as Arsenal continued to dominate but couldn’t find that all-important second goal. Nevertheless, the Gunners held on and secured a vital victory with their game in hand over Manchester City due midweek.
Leicester 0-1 Arsenal: 3 talking points as Gunners grind out win
The game provided plenty of talking points; here they are.
1. Arsenal back in the winning groove
After going winless in four consecutive games, many thought Arsenal were wilting under the pressure of a title challenge, but Arteta’s side have steadied the ship impressively.
After the 3-1 loss to Manchester City, the Gunners have rattled off back-to-back away wins over Aston Villa and now Leicester City.
Arsenal remain at the summit of the league with a two-point cushion, and with Everton up next at the Emirates in what is the Gunners’ game in hand over City, that lead could be stretched to five points.
Continued on the next slide…
That would be the game’s only goal</a> as Arsenal continued to dominate but couldn’t find that all-important second goal. Nevertheless, the Gunners held on and secured a vital victory with their game in hand over Manchester City due midweek.</p>
<h2>Leicester 0-1 Arsenal: 3 talking points as Gunners grind out win</h2>
<p>The game provided plenty of talking points; here they are.</p>
<h2>1. Arsenal back in the winning groove</h2>
<p>After going winless in four consecutive games, many thought Arsenal were wilting under the pressure of a title challenge, but Arteta’s side have steadied the ship impressively.</p>
<p>After the 3-1 loss to Manchester City, the Gunners have rattled off back-to-back away wins over Aston Villa and now Leicester City.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">✅ Back-to-back away wins</p>
<p>📺 Watch the best of the action from our victory over Leicester City 👇 <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/02/26/leicester-city-0-1-arsenal-3-talking-points-gunners-grind-win/"https://t.co/GQhxqXCTKL">pic.twitter.com/GQhxqXCTKL
<p>— Arsenal (@Arsenal) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/02/26/leicester-city-0-1-arsenal-3-talking-points-gunners-grind-win/"https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1629604408286691328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>February 25, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Arsenal remain at the summit of the league with a two-point cushion, and with Everton up next at the Emirates in what is the Gunners’ game in hand over City, that lead could be stretched to five points.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></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/2023/02/26/leicester-city-0-1-arsenal-3-talking-points-gunners-grind-win/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Talking Point #2 </a>
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<img decoding="async" class="wp-image-132584 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/02/26/leicester-city-0-1-arsenal-3-talking-points-gunners-grind-win/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1469509285.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1469509285.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1469509285-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Jorginho was once again impressive. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>2. Arteta’s January signings impress yet again</h2>
<p>The critics of Jorginho’s signing can’t be heard now. The Italian has been nothing short of sensational, and he was yet again on Saturday. The midfielder controlled things nicely as the Gunners again survived without Thomas Partey.</p>
<p>Another January signing in Trossard put forth a stellar showing operating as a false nine. When Arteta signed the Brighton winger, he knew what he was getting, and that showed through against the Foxes.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">⭐️ Leandro Trossard with a stellar performance operating as a false nine against Leicester City. Gutted that his goal was ruled out, it was a dazzling strike from outside the box. Top, top signing. Majestic baller ⚪️🔴 <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/02/26/leicester-city-0-1-arsenal-3-talking-points-gunners-grind-win/"https://t.co/GxaO8JK1rV">pic.twitter.com/GxaO8JK1rV
<p>— Gooner Chris (@ArsenalN7) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/02/26/leicester-city-0-1-arsenal-3-talking-points-gunners-grind-win/"https://twitter.com/ArsenalN7/status/1629539323094749184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>February 25, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/02/26/leicester-city-0-1-arsenal-3-talking-points-gunners-grind-win/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>He was unlucky to have his goal chalked off, but his superb assist for Martinelli’s goal will alleviate that.</p>
<p>Two great signings for Arsenal that have proved to be sensation buys.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></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/2023/02/26/leicester-city-0-1-arsenal-3-talking-points-gunners-grind-win/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Talking Point #3 </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-132585 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/02/26/leicester-city-0-1-arsenal-3-talking-points-gunners-grind-win/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1951,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1247467915.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="1951" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1247467915.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1247467915-768x468.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1247467915-268x162.jpeg 268w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Trossard’s first-half strike was ruled out following VAR intervention. (Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>3. VAR again a talking point</h2>
<p>This is becoming a recurring theme, and it’s worrying, not just for Arsenal but the league. VAR was brought in to help officials and avoid creating more issues.</p>
<p>Trossard’s goal that was chalked off for White interfering with Ward has been labelled comical by some Arsenal fans, and we can see why. It feels like the Gunners have to overcome a VAR decision every game, and they managed to do so again against Leicester.</p>
<p>But that run of luck will end eventually, and you would hate to see the potential title challenge ruined as a result.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Very tired of VAR debates but I can understand why Arsenal fans are annoyed. If it's a foul on Ward for the disallowed goal, then it surely must be a foul on Saka for the penalty?</p>
<p>— Sam Dean (@SamJDean) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/02/26/leicester-city-0-1-arsenal-3-talking-points-gunners-grind-win/"https://twitter.com/SamJDean/status/1629506616721649665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>February 25, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/02/26/leicester-city-0-1-arsenal-3-talking-points-gunners-grind-win/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="hKH1NViEo7"><p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/02/26/leicester-city-0-1-arsenal-3-talking-points-gunners-grind-win/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/02/25/leicester-0-1-arsenal-player-ratings/">Leicester 0-1 Arsenal: Player ratings as Martinelli grabs only goal</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/02/26/leicester-city-0-1-arsenal-3-talking-points-gunners-grind-win/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/02/25/leicester-0-1-arsenal-player-ratings/embed/#?secret=hKH1NViEo7" data-secret="hKH1NViEo7" width="500" height="282" title="“Leicester 0-1 Arsenal: Player ratings as Martinelli grabs only goal” — Pain in the Arsenal" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p></div>
<p>The sheer number of incidents that have happened around the league is now becoming concerning, and that is without mentioning Bukayo Saka being dragged down in the penalty box either.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">