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Arsenal logo
Premier League | Gameweek 34
Jul 7, 2020 at 8.15pm UK
Emirates Stadium
Leicester logo

Arsenal
1 - 1
Leicester

Aubameyang (21')
Mustafi (88')
Nketiah (75')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Vardy (84')

Mikel Arteta rues Arsenal's inability to "kill the game" against Leicester

Mikel Arteta rues Arsenal's inability to
© Reuters
Eddie Nketiah was sent off after he went in late on James Justin.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta claimed Leicester should have been reduced to 10 men during the first half as his side drew 1-1 with the Foxes at the Emirates Stadium.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put the Gunners ahead in the 21st minute and they could have been even further in front as Kasper Schmeichel denied Alexandre Lacazette on two occasions.

However, the turning point came shortly after Eddie Nketiah replaced the Frenchman in the 71st minute, as the Arsenal youngster went in late on James Justin.

Nketiah was initially shown a yellow card before VAR intervened, with referee Chris Kavanagh using the pitchside monitor to review the decision and award a red card instead.

Leicester piled on the pressure with their numerical advantage and it eventually told as Jamie Vardy took his Premier League tally to 22 for the season and earned a point for Brendan Rodgers' side.

But counterpart Arteta was furious that a collision between Shkodran Mustafi and Vardy, where the striker's boot struck the Arsenal defender in the face, albeit accidentally, did not warrant the same punishment.

Arteta told Sky Sports: "If (Nketiah) can be a red card then Leicester has to play with 10 men after 42 minutes – that has to be a red card as well."

The Gunners boss admitted frustration at his side's inability to make the most of their first-half chances and seal victory before the sending-off.

He added: "I am extremely proud of our team and how dominant we were in the first half – we should have gone three or four up and killed the game.

"We have to learn that when you play this type of opponent you have to kill them when you have them."

Rodgers, however, had no doubt Nketiah deserved his dismissal and also praised his side for showing the courage to fight back and claim a point which he believes will keep their "spirit" intact.

Rodgers said: "It was a clear red card – I don't think young Eddie tried to make the challenge that he did, but you can clearly see the ball has bounced up and he's stretched his leg and I'm just thankful JJ wasn't injured worse than the challenge he had.

"We just needed to come together at half-time and reinforce a few items and I thought in the second half we were outstanding.

"I was really pleased how we managed with 11 v 10 – we kept our patience and got a deserved goal, and if we could have made that final pass a bit cleaner we could have gone on and won the game."

Referencing the potential importance of the result, Rodgers added: "I think it's huge for us – Arsenal have been on a really good run but we've been able to come here after a tough game at the weekend and play well.

"We couldn't win the game but we didn't lose it, so it's really good for the spirit. It gives us great confidence to continue with this mindset."

Vardy believes Leicester can take heart from their point.

He told Sky Sports: "I think we've got to take pride at getting back into the game.

"We started the game well, we went 1-0 down and started panicking a bit, so it was about coming back out for the second half and showing what we can do.

"It was just important to get a result. We got the win at the weekend and it was about keeping the momentum going, and (now) back in and focus for next week."

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta pictured on June 28, 2020
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
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2Manchester CityMan City33237380324876
3Liverpool34228475344174
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd33165125150153
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle331551369541550
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Bournemouth34129134960-1145
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton331111115254-244
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34127154654-843
13Fulham34126165054-442
14Crystal Palace34109154456-1239
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton34118153648-1233
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3437243392-5916


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