The Gunners took a two-goal advantage into half-time following goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard but their lead was immediately halved in the second half when a James Justin header deflected off Kai Havertz and past David Raya.
Justin scored again 16 minutes later to level the scores, meeting a Wilfred Ndidi cross on the volley to fire a sweet strike in off the post.
Shots rained down on Mads Hermansen’s goal with the Dane seemingly unbeatable until finally in the 94th minute a Bukayo Saka corner was met by Trossard and turned in unknowingly by Ndidi. Havertz added the gloss on the scoreline five minutes later when he converted from Justin’s attempted clearance.
The win leaves Arsenal third in the table, one point behind Liverpool and just goal difference keeping them behind Manchester City.
Saka form means chance creation not an issue for Arsenal
Martin Odegaard’s injury left many concerned about Arsenal’s ability to break down defences. Arguably the closest like-for-like replacement the Gunners have in their squad is 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, who made his first ever start in men’s football on Wednesday.
Past that, Havertz has looked far better up front and Trossard is usually the man finishing the chances, not creating them. However, in what was Arsenal’s first game in which they were expected to need to break down a deep defence since Odegaard’s injury, they had very little issue. It does help, when you have one of the world’s best wide creators in Saka.
In what appears to be attempt to manage his minutes, Saka has been used a little more sparingly this season and it’s showing. The winger has been in scintillating form and looks far fresher than he did at points last season.
Against Leicester, he was creatively on a level we perhaps have not seen from him before. Eight key passes, four big chances created, eight successful dribbles and six accurate crosses. It is a complete wonder as to how he finished the game without even an assist but his constant determination to feed his teammates drove Arsenal forward all day and it was his corner that led to Arsenal’s winner.
It’s unclear whether it’s an element of anger over how last season’s finale played out that is driving Saka, or just sheer ability. The 23-year-old, who was already one of the world’s best, seems to have inexplicably jumped up another level entirely.
Leicester have a serious goalkeeper
In 2017, on the same Emirates Stadium pitch, David De Gea made 14 saves to ensure Manchester United walked away with the victory. Hermansen’s 13 is the most the Premier League has seen in one match since that day.
Arsenal threw everything they could at him in the second half, yet the Dane batted everything away. In the end it was a deflection off his own defender that finally squirmed past. The 24-year-old can leave London with his head held high though. Trossard even went so far as to give the goalkeeper unprompted credit for his performance when speaking after the game.
It’s going to be an uncertain season for Leicester if the first six games are anything to go by but Hermansen is sure to win the Foxes points throughout.
Ethan Nwaneri is ready
There was some clamor for Nwaneri to start this game given his brace against Bolton in midweek. However, Mikel Arteta elected to keep him on the bench and trusted him to change the game and trusted him to change the game when Arsenal needed a goal, and change the game he did.
Within seconds of his arrival, Nwaneri picked up the ball and drove with purpose towards the box, resulting in a shot that forced Hermansen to save low to his right. Just a couple of minutes later, he again picked up the ball and dribbled past two defenders and turned in the box, delivering a cross that was headed away.
This was an impactful performance you would expect from a player with significant experience in the men’s game. Not a 17-year-old making just his fourth Premier League appearance ever.
Everything Nwaneri does seems to exude confidence. There is not a single hint of the nervousness you would expect of a player so young. It’s no surprise Arsenal scored after his arrival on the pitch, they had lacked a midfielder on the pitch willing to drive into the box and the youngster created uncertainty in the Leicester backline.
His last contribution may have impressed Arteta most, however. With Arsenal finally ahead, Leicester launched one final attempt to get up the pitch but Harry Winks could only get so far before he was met with a sliding tackle from Nwaneri. Arsenal cut out the resulting throw-in and scored, killing off the game.
Speaking about the starlet’s impact after the game, Arteta said: “He came on and immediately beat one, two, three players. I just love it!
“If you want to play here you need to play with that courage.”
The Gunners host PSG on Tuesday, a game Nwaneri could play a part in, probably from the bench. It is more likely his next start could come against Southampton next Saturday. Arsenal will be keen to protect their new prodigy as he adapts to a new level of football but there is an air of inevitability about Nwaneri’s further involvement in this team.
Martinelli is back in form
Martinelli endured a difficult season last time out. An early injury allowed Trossard to gather form on the left and the Brazilian struggled to fully win his position back. His finishing touch, which had been so clinical in the back end of the 22/23 season, was not quite there. The start to this season has been much of the same.
In Martinelli’s credit, his defensive work has never dipped. Against Tottenham and Manchester City he worked tirelessly, his cover on the left absolutely crucial in grinding out results in both games. Arsenal have lacked attacking threat from him on the left though, and have developed a clear right-side bias with Saka’s form never slowing.
Against Leicester the Brazilian seemed to take a monumental step back towards form.
Early on, a great chance went begging. It arrived on Martinelli’s right foot in space but the winger seemed to overthink and took it on his left, the shot sailing over the bar. It wasn’t long before he got his break, though.
A cross from Jurrien Timber found Martinelli in the box and he swept it into the bottom corner. His celebration appeared to be an explosion of relief.
With his confidence up, the winger started to enjoy himself. Demanding the ball and running at his defender, he picked up an assist shortly after, finding Trossard with a precise pass into the box.
Riccardo Calafiori’s arrival at left-left-back seems to have helped Martinelli too. The Italian’s movement is constant and unpredictable, dragging defenders away from the left and leaving Arsenal’s left-winger with space to operate. The imminent debut of Mikel Merino is sure to assist too, providing a more natural left-sided midfielder who is renowned for making box-crashing runs, which should afford Martinelli even more space.
It’s an important season for Arsenal’s number 11. Talk of the Gunners wanting to sign Nico Williams raged on up until deadline day and the Spaniard’s arrival could well have meant issues for Martinelli. If he is to prove he is the man Arsenal entrust to play opposite to Saka, then he must do it this season.
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