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Only one from Arsenal and Leicester City started with a center forward on the field, but it says so much about Alexandre Lacazette’s performance that you couldn’t really tell the difference.
Mikel Arteta has made considerable progress in Arsenal’s evolution since taking office last December, but Sunday’s 1-0 loss was a throwback to the past as they couldn’t make their initial dominance pay, they fizzled like an attacking force and were defeated by a classic counterattack goal.
“I’m really disappointed, we got our hands on it in the first half,” Arteta told Sky Sports after the game. “They caught us with space behind and at that moment we lost the game.
“It’s difficult to create spaces with 10 men behind the ball, but we should have finished the game better. When it comes to those moments, you can’t give away opportunities at the back.
The villain of the piece from the Gunners’ perspective was an all too familiar foe: Jamie Vardy came off the bench with 30 minutes to go, had Leicester’s first shot on goal all night and scored his 11th Premier League goal. against Arsenal to deliver the visitors a precious victory. Only Wayne Rooney (12) has traded the Gunners more times in League history, and this was an archetypal example of many who have done so before: Leicester moved the ball quickly in midfield, Youri Tielemans spotted backup Cengiz Under with a forward pass and the Turkey international winger taunted a ball from the right wing as Vardy ducked and headed home.
Of course, there were no fans at the Emirates Stadium to express their disapproval, but a small crumb of comfort from their absence will come in the fact that they have seen all of this before. Vardy could hardly fail, such was the quality of Under’s cross, but his clinical touch only enhanced the contrast to what happened at the other end for the hosts all night.
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Lacazette was not the only culprit: Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang headed from a Kieran Tierney cross, Bukayo Saka failed to capitalize on several dangerous moments in an otherwise promising display, and Héctor Bellerin missed Arsenal’s clearest opening in the second half. But he missed the best opportunity in the 29th minute when he somehow failed to meet another wonderful delivery from Tierney with significant contact within the 6-yard box.
A fault should never define a player, especially one who had a goal disallowed early on for an offside that was theoretically correct, but practically questionable. Granit Xhaka was deemed to be interfering with play while in an offside position, blocking Kasper Schmeichel’s view of Lacazette’s header from Dani Ceballos’ corner kick in the second minute.
For his part, Schmeichel did not protest, knocking the ball out of his net in frustration at what he thought was an early concession, but VAR referee Paul Tierney considered interference that the goalkeeper apparently did not see himself.
That being said, there was a collective lack of conviction in Arsenal’s attack from then on. Given Saka’s good form and Aubameyang’s talismanic status, although he is palpably less incisive on the right flank, Lacazette seems more vulnerable on this team. His lack of aerial skill sometimes compromises Arsenal’s effectiveness in the final third. It’s an unresolved weakness for Aubameyang or Eddie Nketiah, and it can cost them dearly on nights like this.
Lacazette started the season promisingly, scoring in each of Arsenal’s first three games. His understanding of Aubameyang continues to be a compelling reason to recommend him, as does his pedigree compared to the relatively little-tried, but promising, Nketiah. However, it must be hard for the 29-year-old’s mind not to wander a bit about what to expect if he starts to fall short of the goal.
No doubt excited about the opportunity to defend one of his own, Nketiah has a sizeable section of Arsenal fans calling for the 21-year-old to start more often, and Arteta is clearly a believer, having pulled him off a indifferent loan period. in Leeds last season to reintegrate him into the first team group ahead of schedule.
There’s also the bigger picture: Lacazette has entered the last two years of his current contract with no sign of the club entering talks about an extension. It’s especially alarming given how many times Arsenal have been forced to make tough decisions by players with one year left on their deals. So this is a crucial season, one that also ends with a European Championship, and Lacazette has not entirely given up hope of returning to the French setup, and costly splurge like this must be the exception.
“Obviously the forwards need goals. [Lacazette] He started tonight, he was strong and very aggressive in his game, “said Arteta.” He had a chance to score that goal, and he didn’t. But you have to support them, give them more confidence and try to create more. “
This was Leicester’s first league win on the road at Arsenal since 1973, one that perhaps also benefited from David Luiz and Saka being forced to retire early due to injuries. (Arteta said after the game that Luiz would have a “muscle problem” assessed within the next 48 hours). Thomas Partey, making his full League debut, seemed largely calm but didn’t get close enough to Tielemans for the end. Ball that facilitated Leicester’s winning goal, perhaps due to fatigue after playing against Rapid Vienna 72 hours earlier.
Shkodran Mustafi, replacing Luiz as a replacement, was unable to trace Vardy’s career despite a visible instruction from Gabriel Magalhaes – precisely the kind of mistake that will draw the most criticism of the much-maligned central defender. However, it might not have mattered if Arsenal had translated their previous superiority to the scoreboard.
