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Attendance: 59,829
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Premier League
Apr 26, 2017 at 7.45pm UK
 
Leicester logo

1-0

Huth (86' og.)
FT(HT: 0-0)

Live Commentary: Arsenal 1-0 Leicester City - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of Arsenal's 1-0 victory over Leicester City in the Premier League.
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Arsenal have moved into sixth place in the Premier League table with a 1-0 victory over Leicester City.

In a competitive match, Alexis Sanchez went closest with a 25-yard strike which struck the crossbar, but they had to wait until four minutes from the end before netting the only goal of the game thanks to an own goal from Robert Huth.

Leicester will be disappointed with failing to hold on to a point, but Craig Shakespeare can take the positives from another good performance from his side.

Read below to see how the action unfolded at the Emirates Stadium.


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Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Arsenal and Leicester City.

The general consensus is that Arsenal are the outsiders to claim a top-four spot in the Premier League table at the end of the season but that does not mean that they can't achieve it. Tomorrow's Manchester derby means that one of their rivals are going to drop points so a win here could get them back into the mix for next season's Champions League. Arsene Wenger will know that it is a long shot but despite reaching the FA Cup final, there is no getting away from the fact that his side must finish strongly in the league to justify him remaining in the dugout at the Emirates Stadium.

As for Leicester, they have done superbly to move themselves out of immediate trouble at the lower-end of the table, but they are far from safe from relegation. Victories for Swansea City and Hull City have seen a number of clubs brought back into the mix - including the Foxes - and last season's champions probably need at least another four points to make sure of their top-flight status for another 12 months.

Anyway, without without ado, let's cracking with the team news from North London. With just a three-day break, has Wenger decided to mix things up?

ARSENAL XI: Cech; Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal; Bellerin, Coquelin, Xhaka, Gibbs; Ozil, Walcott, Sanchez

ARSENAL SUBSTITUTES: Martinez, Ramsey, Elneny, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Iwobi, Welbeck, Giroud

LEICESTER CITY XI: Schmeichel; Simpson, Benalouane, Huth, Fuchs; Mahrez, Ndidi, Drinkwater, Albrighton; Ulloa, Vardy

LEICESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: Zieler, Chilwell, Musa, King, Amartey, Okazaki, Gray

Wenger has opted to make as many as four alterations to his starting lineup, with Kieran Gibbs, Hector Bellerin, Francois Coquelin and Theo Walcott all coming into the team. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain drops down to the bench after a knock to his ankle, while Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud also only feature among the replacements. Rob Holding misses out altogether, with Nacho Monreal moving inside into the left-hand side of a three-man defence.

Leicester have had a week off since their Champions League exit to Atletico Madrid but Wes Morgan misses out after suffering a hamstring injury during that game. Fortunately for Craig Shakespeare, Robert Huth is available after serving a suspension in Europe. The surprise inclusion is Leonardo Ulloa, who is given the nod ahead of Shinji Okazaki. The forward has endured a frustrating campaign but after making an impact against Atletico, he gets a chance in domestic action.

HEAD TO HEAD! Tonight's fixture represents the 137th time in which these two teams have faced each other in a competitive match, with Arsenal claiming 63 wins in comparison to 29 victories for Leicester. Despite the success of the East Midlands outfit last season, they have gone as many as 11 matches without registering a win over Arsenal. Their last success came in the FA Cup in 2000 when they won a penalty shootout after a goalless draw in the FA Cup. The reverse fixture this season ended in a goalless draw.

Arsenal begin the night down in seventh place but it should be highlighted that they have played less matches than the teams above them. Just a point tonight will be enough to see them move into sixth position, but there is no doubting that it is a maximum return which they are after. It will take them to within three and four points of Manchester United and Manchester City respectively and if they draw tomorrow night, it would be very much game on for fourth place. Arsenal also move level on points with third-place Liverpool if they win their three games in hand so do not be fooled into thinking they are out of the picture for next season's Champions League.

In Leicester's case, they find themselves just six points above safety but victory this evening would be enough to move up five places and into 10th spot. It's crazy how close the majority of the teams in the bottom half of the standings are to each other, but it also means the rewards are there if a club can string together a few wins on the bounce. I'm fairly sure that Shakespeare would take a point this evening but all three is not out of the question.

The most notable pick in the Arsenal team is the return of Walcott. He hasn't featured since his comments regarding his team's effort in the 3-0 defeat against Crystal Palace, but he is preferred to the likes of Giroud and Danny Welbeck this evening. Wenger was not amused with the criticism but he will be less concerned about the 28-year-old's form. He has scored in five of his last eight appearances.

For Leicester, Ulloa is making just his fourth appearance since being denied a move away from the King Power Stadium in January. He had barely been used by Claudio Ranieri so his frustration was understandable but after being handed a reprieve, he needs to take chances given to him like the one tonight. It will be interesting to see how he and Jamie Vardy deal with Arsenal's back three.

PREDICTION! We are pretty excited about this match and we are expecting goals. Leicester have shown that they still possess the quality and belief which they had last season, but he cannot go against Arsenal at the Emirates. We expect Sanchez and co to have the edge in the final third so we are going to predict a 3-2 win for the home team.

It is time for the two teams to make their way out at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal have won two games in a row - we make get a positive atmosphere in North London this evening! We will keep you up-to-date on the games between Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur, and Middlesbrough and Sunderland.

Leicester get us underway.

There are plenty of empty seats at the Emirates and it is the visitors who have made the brighter start. Vardy and Albrighton combined well down the left but between them, they were unable to get a shot away.

SHOT! Some of the Leicester fans think this is in the net but unfortunately for them, it is just the side-netting. Again, it was Albrighton and Vardy, with Vardy getting his shot away on this occasion.

LATEST! This probably doesn't have much relevance to Leicester but I will provide an update anyway. Middlesbrough have taken the lead against Sunderland through Marten de Roon.

We haven't seen much of Arsenal so far. I did think that Leicester could trouble their three-man backline, but I also thought that Arsenal would overpower the Foxes in defence. It hasn't been like that during these early stages. Plenty of possession but no real shots on goal.

SHOT! Coquelin is the last player you would expect to get a shot on target, but he forces Schmeichel into a smart intervention as he tips the ball from his 25-yard shot behind for a corner.

The Emirates is starting to fill up a bit more now and it is coinciding with their team seizing control of proceedings. Leicester have had to make a couple of timely blocks to prevent their hosts from either getting a shot on goal or finding the back of the net.

SAVE! Back come Leicester, who are showing that they are capable of causing the Gunners defence numerous problems in this match. A Fuchs long throw eventually leads to the ball falling at the feet of Mahrez, but his half-volley is well-saved by Cech.

CHANCE! Both goalkeepers are keeping their respective teams on level terms. It is Schmeichel's turn to make a fine save to stop Walcott from finding the bottom corner from close range. The Dane has been excellent all season and this is another stop to add to his collection.

CHANCE! Leicester are beginning to live very dangerously. A corner from Ozil is flicked towards goal but Simpson - not for the first time tonight - makes an important clearance inside the six-yard box.

It has started to quieten down at the Emirates - in terms of chances, not the crowd. Arsenal are probably shading this one right now but Leicester still look a threat on the break. It's very finely poised.

BOOKING! The first player to go into the referee's notebook this evening is Simpson, who is cautioned for bringing down Sanchez in the centre of the pitch as Arsenal looked to break forward.

It's worth noting that Simpson was sent off for two bookable offences in the corresponding match last season...

SHOT! Leicester are starting to make a habit of hitting the side-netting. Mahrez creates an opportunity for himself after receiving a raking pass but his resulting effort just misses the target.

WOODWORK! Just as the action appeared finished for the first half, Sanchez goes and hits the woodwork! He has always got this kind of shot in his locker but his 25-yard strike cannoned off the crossbar, much to the relief of Schmeichel.

HALF TIME: Arsenal 0-0 Leicester City

The half-time whistle goes at the Emirates and we remain goalless at the break. Leicester have had their moments but they are probably fortunate to remain on level terms, especially with Sanchez's shot hitting the bar moments ago. Big 45 minutes coming up for the Gunners, who cannot afford to drop points this evening.

Arsenal get us back underway in the second half.

Like in the first half, it is Leicester who have started the faster since kickoff. No chances to speak of, but the Arsenal backline are being forced into some early work. Don't think that this match is a foregone conclusion.

BOOKING! That's both Leicester full-backs in the book. Fuchs is given a yellow card for a foul on Walcott as Arsenal show their first signs of ambition since the restart.

CHANCE! More encouraging signs for Leicester as Ndidi meets a long throw-in from Fuchs but his header is too close to Cech in the Arsenal goal.

We have reached the hour mark at the Emirates and we remain goalless. It's a replica of the first half at the moment with Arsenal, slowly but surely, coming back into it. It will be interesting to see how long Wenger waits before making a change.

We should add that there have been no further goals in the other two matches. The only goal of the night has come from Middlesbrough - no-one would have predicted that!

CHANCE! Arsenal are starting to build a little bit of momentum. It's Koscielny who gets their next opportunity on goal after meeting a cross, but his glancing header is too close to Schmeichel.

CHANCE! Another opportunity for Arsenal - this time for Sanchez - but his shot from 20 yards is saved by Schmeichel. This most certainly has not been a boring nil-nil.

SUBSTITUTION! Wenger decided to make his first alteration and it's an attacking one. One comes Danny Welbeck - who scored the winner in this fixture last season - for Gibbs.

SUBSTITUTION! There's a switch for Leicester, too. Shinji Okazaki has replaced Ulloa.

We have less than 20 minutes to go now and Leicester are still on level terms. This could be a huge result for the Foxes. Arsenal, on the other hand, would be left with too much work to do to claim fourth place, surely. Can they net a late winner? Can Leicester nick it?

SUBSTITUTIONS! Wenger certainly isn't messing about. He makes his final two changes, with Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud replacing Coquelin and Walcott.

BOOKING! Another booking for a Leicester player and they now have three of their back four on a yellow card. Benalouane is booked for barging into Giroud.

BOOKING! Arsenal now have a player booked in the form of Xhaka, who is guilty of fouling Mahrez on the touchline.

GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Leicester City (Huth own goal)

Disaster for Leicester - and for Huth - but how big a goal could this be for Arsenal? It was Monreal - of all people - who got the shot on goal, but it deflected off Huth, wrong-footed Schmeichel and went into the net. That is harsh on the Foxes.

SUBSTITUTION! Demarai Gray has been introduced into the action in place of Benalouane. There will be just a few minutes for the winger to make the difference.

Four minutes, to be precise.

I think that is just about it in North London, just as Spurs take the lead against Palace through Christian Eriksen.

FULL TIME: Arsenal 1-0 Leicester City

The full-time whistle goes at the Emirates Stadium and Arsenal have battled their way to a potentially important win over a dogged Leicester side. A draw would have been a fair result, but Huth's late own goal has gifted Arsenal a couple of bonus points ahead of tomorrow's Manchester derby, It's fair to say they will be hoping for a draw!

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you again tomorrow night. Goodbye for now.

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Craig Shakespeare watches on during the Premier League game between West Ham United and Leicester City on March 18, 2017
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014

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