The match unfolded as anticipated, with Arsenal controlling possession while Leicester City, referred to as the Foxes, found themselves defending from the outset.
Arsenal’s first significant opportunity arose 15 minutes in when Gabriel Martinelli was in a favorable position. However, he appeared hesitant with his right foot, opting to switch to his left, which allowed Leicester’s defense to close in on him.
Five minutes later, Martinelli made amends. He struck the ball with his right foot from the center of the box without hesitation. Though he mishit the shot, it still rolled into the corner of the net, giving Arsenal the lead. This marked Martinelli’s first goal of the season, likely boosting his confidence.
Arsenal continued to apply pressure, maintaining possession and earning multiple corners, but they struggled against Leicester’s organized and physical defense. The Foxes were aggressive, leading to several yellow cards. Just ten minutes before half-time, Kai Havertz came close with a powerful header that went narrowly wide.
Despite having five corners in the first half, Arsenal failed to capitalize, as Leicester crowded the six-yard box, leaving Gabriel little room. The half was mostly uneventful, but just before the break, Martinelli created space on the left wing. He delivered an excellent pass to Leandro Trossard, who finished confidently, doubling Arsenal’s advantage just before halftime. The match had been one-sided, and it appeared Leicester had no path back into the game.
The second half began unexpectedly. Within a minute, Leicester mounted an attack, resulting in William Saliba fouling Jamie Vardy and receiving a booking for the challenge. From the subsequent free-kick, Leicester equalized when a header deflected off Gabriel’s shoulder, leaving goalkeeper David Raya with no chance. The game was suddenly wide open.
Arsenal quickly regained control, with Bukayo Saka sending in a threatening corner that found Gabriel, whose header was brilliantly saved by Leicester’s goalkeeper, Hermansen.
Five minutes later, Trossard was beautifully set up by Saka, but once again, Hermansen made an impressive save to keep Leicester in the match.
For much of the second half, Arsenal dominated possession, but Leicester started to find their footing around the hour mark. Facundo Buonanotte made a strong run down the left, though his shot failed to trouble Raya.
Leicester’s growing confidence became apparent, and they stunned Arsenal with a spectacular volley from Jossie, leveling the score at 2-2 with 25 minutes remaining. Arsenal pressed to regain the lead but squandered several chances from corners. Havertz found himself well-positioned but shot straight at Hermansen, who made another crucial save. Arsenal continued to attack, earning an 11th corner with 18 minutes left, but Gabriel’s header was blocked again.
Soon after, Leicester’s goalkeeper mishandled a clearance, handing possession to Declan Rice, who set up Trossard for another excellent chance. However, Hermansen redeemed himself by denying Trossard once more. Leicester attempted a speculative shot from Wilfred Ndidi from a tight angle, marking their fifth effort compared to Arsenal’s 29, but the score remained tied as time dwindled.
In the final moments, Saka attempted one of his signature moves, cutting inside from the right but was fouled at the edge of the box. The referee, however, allowed play to continue, a decision likely to ignite controversy.
Mikel Arteta introduced Ethan Nwaneri for the last five minutes, and the young player nearly made an immediate impact, almost scoring as Arsenal increased their intensity.
Arsenal earned one last corner, and Luca Calafiori connected with what seemed like a perfect header, but once again, Hermansen was there for a vital save, securing the 2-2 draw for Leicester. Despite Arsenal’s clear dominance, they couldn’t find the winner, resulting in shared points.
