Best away performance of the season – defence watertight, game management good and inspired goalkeeping from Ramsdale.
Rather than a game of two halves it was a match of six quarters with the London club winning the first two and last.
Arsenal have an advantage over their near rivals with no European football. And it showed in a way here.
Seems like Arsenal matches may generally follow this pattern – high energy pressing for the first 25; opposition adjusts and comes into it more; Arsenal drop back are more defensive and rely on the counter in the second half.
Aaron Ramsdale – proving critics wrong
Arsenal dropped into a 4-4-2 without the ball, and a 4-4-1-1 to a 4-1-5 at the final point of attack.
Pereira was out, and Perez missing for Leicester. Arsenal were unchanged from Villa.
Saka caused a panic in the Leicester defence in the second minute cutting in, with Amartey lucky not to tap it into his own net.
Arsenal pressed high. Two corners and Arsenal went one up. Gabriel on a long run jumped early, beat Evans and the ball arced into the corner.
In Leicester’s first attack Maddison cut in dangerously and White clattered him for a free kick.
On 18, Saka drove on the wing, passed to Lacazette whose shot was deflected into the path of Smith Rowe who fired it into the middle of the net.
After 25 – the energy gap started appearing and Leicester found spaces which weren’t there before. And Leicester’s influential players got on the ball more.
Ramsdale dramatically tipped an Iheanacho curler round the post with his fingertips.
White nudged Maddison on the edge of the box giving away a dangerous free kick – for the second time in the half.
Maddison sent the free kickover the wall to Ramsdale’s left when he was expecting to go top right. The Arsenal keeper appeared to defy gravity, dived high and knocked the ball onto the bar. It hit the post. Evans tried to knock the loose ball in and the Sheffield United Academy graduate got his chest to it as the ball squirmed along the goal-line.
Rogers changed personnel and formation at half-time with Lookman and Barnes replacing Iheanacho and Amartey. It would be a stern test of Arsenal’s defence with the Leicester wide players linking with the full backs running the inside channels.
Barnes made a difference on the left with his penetrating runs. Thomas had a chance which went just past the post.
On 56, Arteta had seen enough with Odegaard on for Lacazette (still getting match fitness).
Ramsdale saved from Lookman at close range.
Leicester were winning the ball far higher up the pitch.
Barnes broke through, but Ramsdale dived at his feet. Vardy headed the ball wide of the post.
Evans wrestled Aubameyang to the ground as a last man. Laporte was sent off at Man City for a near identical offence.
In latter stages in a mirror reversal of the first half, Arsenal came into it more. Aubameyang had a good chance at the back post, but Schmeichel saved.
Saka had a couple of chances coming in on the right, but his finishing needed to be more clinical.
Ramsdale said: “We started well with two good goals. It was one of those afternoons I contributed. The team should have had more clean sheets.
Rogers said: “We had an awful start. We talked beforehand about Arsenal’s fast starts. We were passive and lacked energy in our pressing. We can defend both goals better.”
Rogers claimed it was foul on the first goal when Lokonga’s knee hit Soumaré and said play should have been stopped earlier. “On the second we didn’t match Lacazette’s run.”
“In the second half we were much the better team. But the keeper made some great saves. The goals we gave away were soft.”
Arteta said: “I’m really happy. We played against a top team. It is hard to come here and win. They are a dangerous team and will cause you issues. We managed the last 20 minutes well.
“We started well and should have scored after a minute. We knew they would change in second half. They created issues. In the last 20, we modified things and got back into the game.
On set pieces, Arteta said: “They are a definitive action which help you win or lose games.
And he concluded by saying: “There are a lot of things to improve. Let’s keep humble and improve.”
Leicester City: 1Schmeichel, 18Amartey (Substituted for Barnes at 45’minutes), 6Evans, Booked at 68mins), 4Söyüncü, 27Castagne, 8Tielemans, 42Soumaré, 33Thomas, 10Maddison (Substituted for Daka at 71’minutes), 14Iheanacho (Substituted for Lookman at 45’minutes), 9Vardy (Booked at 75mins)
Arsenal: 32Ramsdale,18Tomiyasu, 4White, 6Gabriel, 20Varela Tavares, 7Saka (Substituted for Pépé at 85’minutes), 5Partey, 23Sambi Lokonga, 10Smith Rowe (Substituted for Kolasinac at 90’minutes), 9Lacazette (Substituted for Ødegaard at 58’minutes), 14Aubameyang