Arsenal made a palaver of their win over Leicester, dominating the match from start to finish and all but killing it off by half time, before making life very difficult in the second half, conceding twice, and leaving it to the death to get the job done.
Here’s what the managers, players, pundits and stattos made of the action…
Mikel Arteta on his side’s attitude in tough circumstances…
I’m really happy, really pleased with the performance, the attitude of the team and the way we played and dominated the game. I’m especially happy with the way the team reacted when it got very difficult, with a really unexpected two goals conceded which put the game at stake. We – the crowd included – showed unbelievable emotional control, a lot of belief and clarity into what we are continuously doing and a lot of courage at the end to find a way to win it.
Source: Arsenal.com
__
Steve Cooper on Leicester’s late defeat…
Tough one to take to be fair. Proud of the second half performance particularly. If it’s a team that’s not together, they can really go under after the first-half but it was great to score as early as we did in the second half and then go to 2-2. You know you are going to suffer here at time against a really good time like Arsenal at the Emirates but I felt like we were coping really well. To have that deflection for the third goal is just a bit of where our luck is but then the fourth goal is against the run of play.
Source: BBC Match of the Day
Arsenal (4.37) 4-2 (0.27) Leicester
— The xG Philosophy (@xGPhilosophy) September 28, 2024
Gabriel Martinelli on the win…
Really happy with the performance. I think we deserved the win. We suffered a bit. We won the game, that’s the most important thing. It is always nice to score goals. We have to focus on ourselves and be ready for the next game.
Source: PremierLeague.com
__
Leandro Trossard on leaving it late…
Overall, I think we played a very good game to go 2-0 up at half-time and then the goals we conceded today, they were a bit too easy. It shows how you need to push for the other goals – we had some great chances, and their goalkeeper made some great saves as well but it’s nice to get those two goals at the end to get the win.
Source: Arsenal.com
Arsenal 4-2 Leicester City FT
Arsenal survive a huge scare to win it with two second-half injury-time goals!
The stats make it look like a pretty one-sided game… #ARSLEI pic.twitter.com/8amiUkodMb
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) September 28, 2024
Arteta on whether Riccardo Calafiori was lucky to avoid a red card…
I haven’t seen the action, but I got really worried because he gave the foul. I haven’t seen the replay.
Source: Post-game press conference
__
Arteta on the impact of substitute Nwaneri…
I brought on Ethan and the guy, at 17-years-old, his first action is to go past two, three people and take a shot. I just love it. If you want to be here and play at that level, you need to have that courage. I really value that from the team today.
Source: Post-game press conference
For me the fact we are finding players gives me more confidence for the season.
Injury and suspension creates opportunities.
Ok it’s changes how we play but we are finding people who can genuinely help.
No more fake depth.
Real quality that looks so focussed 👏🏾👏🏾
— Clive (@clivepafc) September 28, 2024
Gabriel Martinelli on netting his first goal of the season…
It’s always nice to score goals and even more for us that plays up front so really happy with the goal and the assist [on Trossard’s goal] as well.
Source: Dazn
__
Don Hutchinson (yeah, slim pickings today) on Arsenal’s winner…
They find a way to find a free player at the far post. They’ve had the overload at the far post.
Source: PremierLeague.com
📊 Chances created:
𝟖 – 𝐁𝐮𝐤𝐚𝐲𝐨 𝐒𝐚𝐤𝐚 𝐯𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 ✅
8 – Luis Díaz this PL season
8 – Savinho this PL season
6 – Bruno Fernandes this PL season[@statmusefc] pic.twitter.com/ySemFwjXZE
— DailyAFC (@DailyAFC) September 28, 2024
Martin Keown on Arsenal’s title chances…
They could [win it] but they’ve got Man City in the room with them so they have to respect them, and I think there is a healthy respect between the two managers which is the only thing keeping a lid on those two clubs right now, but it’s like a tug of war. When you’re playing your match or watching their game and they lose a little and that rope starts to come your way, Arsenal will have thought before the match today, we’ve got a good tug on this rope, we’ve got an opportunity. Then suddenly, it’s 2-2, the rope is going the other way and you’ve got to be brave in that moment. They found a solution and found a way to win to keep the momentum going.
Source: BBC Final Score
__
Arteta on Saka’s consistently dangerous corners…
That’s not an extra, that’s a gamechanger. When he’s there in front of goal and he puts the ball in the back of the net, that’s a game changer. That’s what he needs to do consistently at this level and the others have to do other stuff, I think we generated 17 corners today, we should have scored from others, we need every possible tool to be a threat all the time.
Source: Post-game press conference
📊🤯 Gabriel Martinelli when Riccardo Calafiori has started behind him:
– 2 games ✅
– 1 goal ⚽️
– 2 assists 🎯 pic.twitter.com/LCVIUuUJfG— DailyAFC (@DailyAFC) September 28, 2024
Wait, did I watch a different game? What did Califiore do which supposedly merited a red card? I genuinely don’t know what he is referring to…or is this more media fabrication?
Fouled a Leicester player kinda awkwardly around the halfway line when they were breaking. Innocuous enough challenge, but you’ve seen yellows given for them on other days. I personally thought it was a foul and no more, but again, refs, Arsenal, we know the story.
Funny thing was that his and Saliba’s yellows were soft in the first place! Ref just went on a card-dishing spree at the beginning of the second half.
Exactly that. It’s like Blogs was talking about last week. The ref decided to impose himself on the game and start influencing it when there was no need. The Saliba booking directly led to their first goal too
Second yellow I think
I remember seeing that and thinking Calafiori was pretty lucky. I think the ref let it go cos he’d just waved away a penalty shout for Havertz
he had a rough challenge when whey were counter attacking, which would usually mean nothing but with the quality of refs we have it wouldn’t have been out of character for them to give him a red card, suspend him for 5 matches and deduct us seven points
If it’s the foul I saw, I think it was on Buonanotte who swan dove over his leg and then got up and waved an imaginary card toward the ref, who, beautifully, got out his yellow card and booked Buonanotte.
At which point the ref said, “Good night!”
Or was it Buon giorno, bastardo? Cause that’s what Richy was thinking.
I watched a Leicester player go studs up over the ball into Martinelli’s shin and not even get a yellow.
Inconsistency seems to be the only consistency with PL refs.
Ex spurs no less.
I haven’t seen a replay yet, but I am pretty certain the Leicester City player dived in an attempt to get Calafiori sent off. He even got booked for telling the ref to get his card out. Even though there were some odd deciaions (e.g. playing on when Saka was fouled on the edge of the box) I think the ref actually did well managing the game. He could have sent off Calafiori and one of the Leicester City players too for second yellows. I guess they do have a choice and don’t have to just go by the LETTER… Read more »
I remember talking about the FB position last season in terms of creativity and what that could do for Martinelli in particular. Playing ahead of Kiwior or Tomiyasu is a thankless task, even when it’s Zinchenko he seldom gives the overlap. With Calafiori, he now has a running mate who will give him overlaps, underlaps, interchange and combine with technical security and zip. It will make a world of difference. On the other side, I have nothing bad to say about Ben White but there’s a real chance that Jurrien Timber is just better. Better balance, better first step quickness,… Read more »
We’ll need them both. We have to play three games per week.
Might be, but hold your horses. We haven’t seen him put up 7-8 out of 10 consistently over almost an entire season yet, like Ben.
exactly, Ben White is a consistency monster and our defence last season and carrying into this one was basically unpenetrable with him, his chemistry and instinctual understanding with Saliba and Gabriel, often as our de facto back 3 when our LB inverts, is unparalleled. Timber is almost definitely a more talented football player, but he still has to show he can have the level of synchronicity and unwavering mental concentration to deliver that kind of solidity week in week out. In the end I’m really happy to have both. If Timber does become our first choice RB for the big… Read more »
Had similar thoughts but think Ben is a better passer. He is also much better at annoying the opposition on corners. Thought we were missing him 😀
Arsenal are setting record books on fire one week for their ability to defend and deny scoring chances, then the next week for their ability to attack and create them. Asombroso!
What kind of juice was Trossard carrying as punishment? Was it the bitter tears juice of Haaland?
“but then the fourth goal is against the run of play”
Not sure about the point of addressing comments from a manager with seemingly negative IQ, but how about you even having a chance of getting a point from this game was completely and utterly against the run of play you halfwitted oaf? Or what run of play are you talking about then, Leicester finally advancing the ball past the halfway line after conceding in injury time? You really showed some attacking verve there.