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The Leicester players swarm Vardy after his goal. Nigel French
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Arsenal v Leicester City, Premier League

The league leaders faced another massive test at the Emirates on what promises to be a thrilling day of football.

IT’S 14 FEBRUARY which can only mean one thing… SUPER SUNDAY.

We’ve got a treat for you this afternoon with three games back-to-back in the English top flight.

First up, unlikely leaders Leicester City are in north London to face third-placed Arsenal.

At 2pm, Aston Villa host Liverpool then title challangers Manchester City and Tottenham meet at the Etihad Stadium at 4.15pm.

Team news…

Per Mertesacker and Francis Coquelin are back for the Gunners, while Leicester are unchanged from the side that dismantled Man City.

In fact, they have had the same starting XI for the last six league games. So much for the Tinkerman!

ARSENAL: Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Sanchez, Giroud.

 

LEICESTER CITY: Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs, Mahrez, Kanté, Drinkwater, Albrighton, Okazaki, Vardy.

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Going into the game, Leicester are five points ahead of London pair Tottenham and Arsenal, with Man City a point back.

PL table 14 Feb

With 13 matches to be played, do you believe the Foxes will go on to win the title?


Poll Results:

Yes (149)
No (128)

The Sky Sports panel and Thierry Henry in particular has been predicting a potentially difficult afternoon for Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker, who will need to be at his best to keep Jamie Vardy quiet.

Britain Soccer Premier League Frank Augstein Frank Augstein

Here come the teams…

KICK-OFF – We’re underway. With so much on the line, this game has been described a couple of times already as a ‘cup final’.

Arsenal Leicester Kick off

An Ozil free-kick from deep lands at the feet of Sanchez, but the Chilean is crowded out while attempting to bring the ball down for a shot inside Leicester’s box.

Arsenal immediately on the attack and they win a corner inside the first minute. The delivery comes into the back post and Alexis Sanchez rises highest but heads wide.

Arsenal have come quickest out of the traps here, with plenty of possession in the opposing half.

CLOSE! Okazaki appears to be in on goal but play is pulled back for offside. It looked marginal on the replay.

Chances at both end! First, Schmeichel is out like a light to cut out a through-ball ahead of Aaron Ramsey. Moments later, Albrighton crosses for Vardy and his header is stopped on the line by Cech.

Leicester attack in numbers and Kante tries his luck from a good 30 yards out. The shot is high and wide.

GREAT BLOCK! Arsenal are getting joy down the right and Oxlade-Chamberlain cuts the ball back for Sanchez. Wes Morgan puts his body on the line to deflect the effort behind.

From the resulting corner, Giroud heads off target.

With Leicester coming more into the game, it has been an enjoyable opening half hour to watch without setting the world alight.

ARSENAL HAVE THE BALL IN THE BACK OF THE NET… but the linesman’s flag has been raised.

Ozil puts in a delightful ball and Giroud improvises to beat Schmeichel with backwards header. Replays show the Frenchman was in an offside position, however.

The man is a machine.

Picking up possession out wide, Kante curls the ball to the back post and it very nearly catches Cech out as the Gunners goalkeeper has to bat it around the post.

PENALTY TO LEICESTER!

GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Leicester (Jamie Vardy) 

Vardy goes down easily under a challenge from Monreal and the man of the moment picks himself up to blast home.

Half-time: Arsenal 0-1 Leicester 

Britain Soccer Premier League Vardy dispatches his penalty. Matt Dunham Matt Dunham

A lot of talk about whether the penalty incident should have been given. Monreal sticks out a leg and Vardy runs into it. Did he dive? What do you think?

Vardy Monreal

SECOND HALF – We’re back and Calum Chambers is on for Koscielny, who has picked up an injury.

Arsenal goes close. Drinkwater makes a goal-saving tackle on Ozil before Ramsey drags his shot across the Leicester goal and wide.

PENALTY SHOUT - Mahrez goes down in the box under Monreal’s challenge but this time Martin Atkinson waves appeals away.

RED CARD! It’s all happening here. Danny Simpson, on a yellow card from the first half, pulls Giroud back and receives his marching orders. Leicester down to 10.

Sanchez drills a strike wide, before there’s a change for both teams.

Demarai Gray is on for Okazaki, while Theo Walcott replaces Coquelin.

GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Leicester (Theo Walcott) 

It has taken 70 minutes to record their first shot on target, but it has gone on. Substitute Walcott latches onto Giroud’s knockdown to shoot past Schmeichel for the equaliser.

Vardy holds up the ball brilliantly and brings Kante into play. He attempts to wraps his foot around the ball and find the far corner, but the shot it over-hit.

Arsenal believe they can win this now. Sanchez gets into the penalty area but, not for the first time today, fails to hit the target.

Subs on both sides – Andy King on for Albrighton, while Danny Welbeck is introduced for the first time since last April. The former Man United man takes the place of Oxlade-Chamberlain.

It’s all Arsenal here and Schmeichel has just made an outstanding save from Giroud.

WHAT A MISS! Mertesacker is lying on the ground with his head in his hands and so he should be. The big German has just guide a header the wrong side of the post.

Seconds later, Welbeck is unable to mark his return with an instant goal with Morgan doing just enough.

Just four minutes of additional time to be played…

GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Leicester (Danny Welbeck)

Unbelievable! Leicester give away a free-kick and Ozil crosses for Welbeck, who gets a glancing header to seal the win.

Full-time: Arsenal 2-1 Leicester 

The Gunners have sealed a huge three points. So cruel on Leicester.

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