Match ends, Arsenal 1, Leicester City 1.
Arsenal 1-1 Leicester City: Vardy rescues point for visitors after Aubameyang opener
By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer at Emirates Stadium
- From the section Premier League
Jamie Vardy's late equaliser gave Leicester City a vital point to keep their Champions League hopes on track and end Arsenal's recent winning streak.
The Gunners looked on course for a fifth successive victory to maintain their outside chances of a place in Europe's elite competition next season at the expense of Leicester's similar ambitions after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang swept in his 20th league goal of the season in the first half.
Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel kept Arsenal at bay with a string of fine saves before the interval, twice denying Alexandre Lacazette as well as Bukayo Saka - and it proved to be a vital contribution.
Arsenal were reduced to 10 men with 15 minutes left when Eddie Nketiah was sent off just four minutes after coming on as substitute for a high challenge on James Justin, and Leicester cashed in on their numerical advantage when Vardy slid home Demarai Gray's cross in the 84th minute, the goal finally awarded after a lengthy VAR check for offside.
It was Vardy's 22nd league goal of the season and restored his two-goal advantage over Aubameyang at the top of the Premier League scoring charts.
Leicester drop to fourth place, four points ahead of Manchester United having played a game more, but this was an important point that left Arsenal frustrated in seventh.
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Line-ups
Arsenal
- 26Martínez
- 20MustafiBooked at 88mins
- 23David Luiz
- 31Kolasinac
- 2Bellerín
- 8CeballosSubstituted forTorreiraat 80'minutes
- 34Xhaka
- 3Tierney
- 77SakaSubstituted forWillockat 71'minutes
- 9LacazetteSubstituted forNketiahat 71'minutesBooked at 75mins
- 14AubameyangSubstituted forMaitland-Nilesat 90+3'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Papastathopoulos
- 11Torreira
- 15Maitland-Niles
- 16Holding
- 19Pépé
- 24Nelson
- 28Willock
- 30Nketiah
- 33Macey
Leicester
- 1Schmeichel
- 29BennettSubstituted forGrayat 76'minutes
- 6Evans
- 4Söyüncü
- 2Justin
- 25NdidiSubstituted forPraetat 82'minutes
- 8Tielemans
- 11AlbrightonSubstituted forFuchsat 59'minutes
- 14IheanachoSubstituted forBarnesat 59'minutes
- 9Vardy
- 17Pérez
Substitutes
- 5Morgan
- 7Gray
- 12Ward
- 15Barnes
- 20Choudhury
- 22James
- 24Mendy
- 26Praet
- 28Fuchs
- Referee:
- Chris Kavanagh
Match Stats
Home TeamArsenalAway TeamLeicester
- Possession
- Home38%
- Away62%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away5
- Corners
- Home10
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away14
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Arsenal 1, Leicester City 1.
Attempt missed. Dennis Praet (Leicester City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Demarai Gray.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Ainsley Maitland-Niles replaces Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Foul by Demarai Gray (Leicester City).
Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Shkodran Mustafi (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Harvey Barnes (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Shkodran Mustafi (Arsenal).
VAR Decision: Goal Leicester City - Arsenal 1-1 Leicester City (Jamie Vardy).
Goal!
Goal! Arsenal 1, Leicester City 1. Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Demarai Gray.Goal confirmed following VAR Review.
Offside, Arsenal. Kieran Tierney tries a through ball, but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Leicester City. Dennis Praet replaces Wilfred Ndidi.
Foul by Çaglar Söyüncü (Leicester City).
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Lucas Torreira replaces Dani Ceballos.
Offside, Leicester City. Harvey Barnes tries a through ball, but Jamie Vardy is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is close, but misses to the left from a direct free kick.
Substitution
Substitution, Leicester City. Demarai Gray replaces Ryan Bennett.
Dismissal
Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal) is shown the red card.
VAR Decision: Card upgraded Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal).
James Justin (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal).
Harvey Barnes (Leicester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Héctor Bellerín (Arsenal).
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Joseph Willock replaces Bukayo Saka.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Eddie Nketiah replaces Alexandre Lacazette.
Offside, Arsenal. David Luiz tries a through ball, but Alexandre Lacazette is caught offside.
Attempt missed. David Luiz (Arsenal) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Dani Ceballos with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Jonny Evans.
Attempt missed. Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Ayoze Pérez with a cross.
Attempt saved. Harvey Barnes (Leicester City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by James Justin with a cross.
Attempt blocked. Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Youri Tielemans.
Youri Tielemans (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal).
Attempt missed. Harvey Barnes (Leicester City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Youri Tielemans.
Substitution
Substitution, Leicester City. Christian Fuchs replaces Marc Albrighton.
Substitution
Substitution, Leicester City. Harvey Barnes replaces Kelechi Iheanacho.
Foul by Ryan Bennett (Leicester City).
Kieran Tierney (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the left wing.
