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Premier League
Sep 26, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
Arsenal logo

2-5

Vardy (13', 89')
FT(HT: 1-2)
Walcott (18'), Sanchez (33', 57', 81'), Giroud (93')

Live Commentary: Leicester City 2-5 Arsenal - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live text commentary as Arsenal claim a thrilling 5-2 victory over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.
2

Alexis Sanchez scored a hat-trick as Arsenal came from behind to claim a 5-2 win over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.

Jamie Vardy gave the Foxes an early lead, but goals from Theo Walcott and Sanchez saw the Gunners head into the break in front.

Sanchez then added two more strikes in the second half, and after Vardy pulled a goal back for Leicester, Olivier Giroud scored deep into stoppage time to seal the points for Arsenal.

Find out how the action unfolded below.


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Hello everyone! The Premier League takes centre stage after a week of cup action and things are already starting to take shape after the first six games of the season. There are plenty of crucial games taking place across the country this afternoon, but our focus will be on the events at the King Power Stadium, as high-flying Leicester City take on Arsenal.



The Gunners have had a mixed start to the campaign and they were beaten by Chelsea last weekend, just days after suffering a shock defeat in the Champions League to Dinamo Zagreb. However, they did beat fierce rivals Tottenham in the League Cup in midweek to repair some of their damaged confidence.

It has been a far more impressive opening to the season for Leicester, who are currently fourth in the Premier League table and still unbeaten. The Foxes were also in League action in midweek against West Ham, where an extra-time winner from Andy King booked their spot in the fourth round.

There are bound to be plenty of changes made by each manager after their team's exertions in the cup this week, so let's take a look at which players have made the starting lineups, as the team news has arrived!

LEICESTER XI: Schmeichel, De Laet, Huth, Morgan, Schlupp, Mahrez, Kante, Drinkwater, Albrighton, Okazaki, Vardy

ARSENAL XI: Cech, Bellerin, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Monreal, Flamini, Cazorla, Ramsey, Sanchez, Ozil, Walcott

LEICESTER SUBS: Schwarzer, King, Simpson, Kramaric, Ulloa, Inler, Dodoo

ARSENAL SUBS: Opsina, Chambers, Debuchy, Gibbs, Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud

So, that's how the teams are looking this afternoon. As you can see, Arsenal have brought a number of their key players back into the side following their League Cup win. Theo Walcott is once again chosen to lead the line, while Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil both return to start in the attack.

Francis Coquelin is ruled out through injury, meaning there is also a start for Mathieu Flamini following his exploits in the cup. He is joined in the middle by Santi Cazorla, who is back after a one-game ban. Further back, the Gunners have named their first-choice defence, with Petr Cech returning in goal.

Meanwhile, Leicester have also made plenty of changes to the team who beat West Ham. Top scorer Riyad Mahrez is back in from the start, with Shinji Okazaki and Jamie Vardy leading the attack. Danny Drinkwater and N'Golo Kante are also restored to the midfield, while it is all change at the back.

The opening weeks of the season have not exactly been disastrous for Arsenal, but the Gunners have already suffered some damaging results at home and abroad. They have also not been helped by recent supporter unrest after the failure to sign any outfield players over the summer.

Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho chases Hector Bellerin of Arsenal on August 24, 2015© Getty Images


As things stand, they are currently fifth in the table and trail leaders Manchester City by five points so a challenge for the title is not completely out of the question. However, last weekend's 2-0 defeat against Chelsea raised doubts once again over their ability to win the big games against their rivals.

They did lose that match in controversial circumstances, with Gabriel Paulista shown red for a clash with Diego Costa. The Brazilian has since had his three-match ban overturned, but will miss today's match for failing to leave the pitch immediately after being sent off.

The Gunners were beaten by Dinamo Zagreb just days before in their first Champions League match of the season, but they responded to those back-to-back defeats by claiming a 2-1 victory over North London rivals Tottenham in the League Cup on Wednesday evening.

Mathieu Flamini proved to be the hero at White Hart Lane by scoring both goals, including a stunning late volley to win the match. The result will certainly help boost morale, but the team that is playing in today's match includes plenty of changes.

Leicester, meanwhile, have started the season in great form and they are two points ahead of the Gunners in fourth place. The Foxes are the only team with an unbeaten record in the top flight and they are also the joint-top scorers with 13 goals alongside West Ham.

Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur at The King Power Stadium on August 22, 2015© Getty Images


Claudio Ranieri's side are also into the fourth round of the League Cup, after beating West Ham in midweek. That match went all the way to extra-time, with Andy King scoring the winning goal just four minutes from the end. Although Leicester did rest a number of key players, it will be interesting to see how much the 120 minutes of football has taken out of them.

One of the major aspects of the club's start to the season has been their ability to rescue points from losing positions. Last month they came from behind with late goals against Tottenham and Bournemouth to salvage draws, before coming from two goals down to beat Aston Villa 3-2 on their return from the international break. They were also losing 2-0 at half time against Stoke last weekend, before second-half goals from Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy saw the game finish all square.

Arsenal have an impressive record against Leicester in recent years, and they have not suffered a defeat to Foxes in the past 17 meetings. The last time they were beaten was during a Premier League match in 1994, which finished 2-1 in favour of the hosts at Filbert Street.

Leicester did mange to hold Arsenal to a 1-1 draw in their third league match last season, with Leonardo Ulloa quickly equalising after Alexis Sanchez had put the Gunners into the lead. It was Arsenal who came out on top in the return meeting in February, with Laurent Koscielny and Theo Walcott on the scoresheet in a 2-1 victory.

Laurent Koscielny of Arsenal falls after scoring the opening goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Leicester City at Emirates Stadium on February 10, 2015© Getty Images


We're just a few minutes away from the start of the match, with both teams out on the pitch. There is also a great atmosphere inside the ground, as you would expect after Leicester's fine opening to the season.

KICKOFF! We are underway at the King Power Stadium!

The Gunners have enjoyed plenty of possession in the early stages and they are working the ball around well between their midfielders. They also manage to spring Walcott through on goal, but the England international is standing a few yards offside and the flag is quickly raised by the linesman.

OFF THE LINE! Arsenal come close to breaking the deadlock when Sanchez is slipped clear down the left. He then pulls the ball across the middle where Cazorla is lurking. The Spaniard then fires in a low drive, but his shot is cleared off the line by De Laet.

OFF THE POST! The Foxes have soaked up a great deal of pressure, but they show their threat when Schlupp bursts forward down the left and forces Cech to parry his fierce attempt. Moments later Vardy picks the ball up just outside the box and works some space, before drilling a low strike against the post.

GOAL! Leicester 1-0 Arsenal (Jamie Vardy)

Leicester can't stop scoring at the moment and they take an early lead this afternoon. Arsenal fail to deal with a long ball down the left, with Vardy breaking clear. He then cuts inside and gets the ball onto his right foot, before bending a fine strike past Cech and into the far corner.

SAVE! The Gunners are on the attack as they look for a quick response and Cazorla slips Walcott into the box with a fantastic pass. The striker is at a tight angle and tries to squeeze in his shot at the near post, but Schmeichel is quickly off his line to make a fine block.

SHOT! Cazorla has been heavily involved for the Gunners and he has another chance when he picks the ball up just inside the box. He then looks to fire a drive into the top corner, but doesn't catch the ball as he would like leaving the keeper to make a comfortable save.

GOAL! Leicester 1-1 Arsenal (Theo Walcott)

What a great game this is turning out to be as Arsenal get back on level terms. Vardy almost grabs a second when he loops a header onto the bar, before the Gunners break quickly with Cazorla leading the charge. He then slides a brilliant ball through to Walcott, who shows great composure to guide a low effort past Schmeichel and into the far corner.

SUB! Arsenal are being forced into a change here, with Flamini heading off with an injury in place of Arteta.

This game is being played at such an electric pace and you get the feeling that there are plenty more goals to come this afternoon. It's end to end at the moment and it's hard to tell which way it will swing next.

Things have just settled down slightly after the action packed opening we have had at the King Power Stadium. Arsenal have regained their composure after a sloppy period in the match, and they are starting to see a lot more of the ball.

Walcott has caused the Leicester defence a number of problems and he breaks clear down the left with De Laet out of position. He then pulls it across to Ramsey on the edge of the box, but the Welshman takes too long to get his shot away, and eventually sees his attempt blocked by Morgan.

GOAL! Leicester 1-2 Arsenal (Alexis Sanchez)

It's taken him a while to get off the mark, but Sanchez has his first goal of the season for Arsenal. Bellerin is the creator with a great run down the right, and when his low cross can't be turned in by Walcott at the near post, it drops kindly to Sanchez to slot the ball in from just a few yards out.

Leicester may feel slightly aggrieved at the goal, as Vardy had gone down in the Arsenal half in the build up. However, the replays do not appear to show a foul from any of Arsenal's players and the referee made the right call to play on.

SHOT! Cazorla has been involved in nearly everything good from the Gunners this afternoon and he shows great determination to the win the ball outside the box. He then drives forward and fires in a low strike towards the far corner, but it goes a few inches wide of the post.

SHOT! Walcott is almost in again as he races onto a pass from Ozil down the left. He then cuts onto his right foot to try and shape an effort into the corner, but De Laet gets back to make a great challenge and takes all of the sting out of his attempt.

CHANCE This has to go down as a big opportunity missed for the Foxes. Albrighton whips a great free kick into the box that almost creeps in at the far post, but ends up heading just inches wide. Morgan was the closest to connecting with the cross, but he could not stretch enough to get a vital touch.

There are going to be at least two minutes added on before the break.

HALF-TIME: Leicester 1-2 Arsenal

A wonderful first half of Premier League action comes to an end with Arsenal currently leading 2-1 against Leicester. Jamie Vardy had given the Foxes the lead, but goals from Theo Walcott and Alexis Sanchez have turned the game in the away side's favour.

Theo Walcott of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Leicester City and Arsenal at The King Power Stadium on September 26, 2015 in Leicester, United Kingdom.© Getty Images


Right, let's take a look at the some of statistics from the opening 45 minutes. Arsenal have seen plenty of the ball and they have amassed 60% of the possession. They have also had eight attempts on goal, with four finding the target, while only two of Leicester's seven shots have hit the target.

There's plenty more games taking place this afternoon, in what is turning out to be a busy weekend of Premier League action. A goal from Memphis Depay has given Manchester United a 1-0 lead over Sunderland, while James Milner has fired Liverpool ahead against Aston Villa. Meanwhile, Southampton and Stoke are both winning and West Ham's game with Norwich is currently level.

RESTART! Arsenal take the kick off and get the action back underway.

SUB! The Foxes have made a change at the break, with King on to replace Okazaki.

Sanchez is nearly in at the start of the half for Arsenal, as he Ramsey floats a pass over the top for him at the back post. He had got in behind De Laet and would have had just the keeper to beat, but a poor first touch from the Chilean sees the ball go harmlessly out of play.

CHANCE! Big chance for the Gunners as they get plenty of men forward with Ozil being found out wide. The German then pulled it across the middle to an unmarked Sanchez, who managed to get in a low strike, but Huth was there to make a crucial block and prevent a certain goal.

SHOT! Walcott shows great strength to hold the ball up on the edge of the box, before Sanchez arrives on the scene. He then takes hold of possession and drives into the box before drilling in a strike that takes a wicked deflection and loops over the keeper and onto the roof of the net.

CHANCE! Walcott and Sanchez combine brilliantly again for Arsenal, who are well on top at the moment. Walcott shows his pace again with a darting run to the byline, before he stands up a great cross to Sanchez at the back post, but the Chilean sees his header blocked and deflect just behind for a corner.

SHOT! It's been a while since Leicester last threatened but they give a warning to their opponents that they are not out of the match when Schlupp fires in a low drive from outside the box. However, he doesn't get enough power on the strike and Cech easily claims.

GOAL! Leicester 1-3 Arsenal (Alexis Sanchez)

Arsenal have been in control since the break and they finally make their pressure count with a third goal. Sanchez is the man who scores for the second time this afternoon, as he breaks clear of the defence and beats Schmeichel to Ozil's cross, before directing a firm header into the back of the net.

CHANCE! What a stunning goal this would have been from the Gunners. They put together a stunning passing move through the midfield, before Sanchez flicks the ball into the path of Walcott. The striker then looks to bend a strike into the top corner, but he gets too much on the ball and it ends up heading over the bar.

SHOT! The build up play from Arsenal is stunning at the moment and another great team move sees Ramsey pick out Ozil at the back post. The German then looks to fire in a low strike, but his effort is well blocked and deflected behind for a corner.

SUB! Leicester make their second change of the afternoon, as Ulloa comes on to replace Albrighton.

SHOT! There is still plenty of time for the Foxes to mount a fightback and King tries to pull a goal back when he latches onto Ulloa's flick just outside the box. He has time and space and tries to pick out the far corner, but he scuffs his effort and it dribbles wide of the target.

YELLOW CARD! Arteta is shown the first yellow card of the match for handling the ball.

The Gunners have shown their quality in this second half and Wenger will surely be pleased at what he has seen from his team. Meanwhile, Ranieri will be disappointed at the way the Foxes have defended since the break, as they have given their opponents far too much space to attack.

YELLOW CARD! Another card is shown by the referee and this time it's Drinkwater who is cautioned for a poor attempted tackle from behind on Walcott.

It's just not happening for Leicester at the moment and after they win a free kick in a promising position the Gunners manage to clear, with Mertesacker dominant in the air. They just don't look like scoring at the moment, and instead the next goal seems more likely to come from the visitors.

SUB! The Gunners make their second change of the match, with Oxlade-Chamberlain coming on for Ramsey.

SUB! The Foxes are also changing things around, with Drinkwater heading off to be replaced by Kramaric.

SUB! It's a third and final change for Arsenal, with Giroud taking Walcott's place up front.

GOAL! Leicester 1-4 Arsenal (Alexis Sanchez)

What a return to form it has been for Sanchez, who completes his hat-trick and surely ends Leicester's hopes of a comeback. The Chilean picks the ball up on the left and drives into the middle, before firing a superb low strike that catches Schmeichel out and ends up finding the bottom corner.

SAVE! Cech has not had much to do in the second half, but he is called into action when Vardy breaks clear down the left. It is a tight angle, but the striker tries to squeeze in a shot which is well-blocked by the Arsenal keeper at his near post.

Everything has clicked into gear for Arsenal in this second half and they have shown the quality that their side undoubtedly possess. They have taken their chances well, which has not always been the case in recent weeks.

GOAL! Leicester 2-4 Arsenal (Jamie Vardy)

It may not quite be over yet, as Vardy pulls a goal back for the hosts. Cech had just made a stunning save to deny Kramaric from point-blank range, but from the rebound Vardy showed his composure to curl a low effort beyond the keeper and into the bottom corner.

SAVE! Down the other end of the pitch Arsenal almost grab a fifth as Ozil is played clear down the left-hand side of the box. He only has the keeper to beat, but he sees his low drive kept out by Schmeichel.

There are going to be at least four minutes of stoppage time.

GOAL! Leicester 2-5 Arsenal (Olivier Giroud)

This should just about wrap things up for Arsenal, as Giroud scores their fifth goal of the afternoon. The Frenchman was picked out inside the box after a great run and cross down the left by Monreal, before guiding a low strike into the bottom corner.

FULL-TIME: Leicester 2-5 Arsenal

It's all over at the King Power Stadium and Arsenal have bounced back to goalscoring form this afternoon. A stunning hat-trick from Alexis Sanchez has helped them to a 5-2 win against Leicester, in what was a thrilling Premier League match.

Arsenals English striker Theo Walcott (L) congratulates Arsenals Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez after Sanchez scored his team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and Arsenal at King Power Stadium in Leices© Getty Images


I need to catch my breath after all that excitement, but our live coverage for today is not over yet, as we have all the action from Chelsea's visit to Newcastle United right here. I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend. Goodbye!

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Theo Walcott of Arsenal runs with the ball during the Emirates Cup match between Arsenal and VfL Wolfsburg at the Emirates Stadium on July 26, 2015
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