Leicester 0 Arsenal 1 LIVE RESULT: Martinelli fires table-toppers FIVE points clear at top of Premier League – latest
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ARSENAL have gone five points clear at the top of the Premier League after beating Leicester 1-0.
Gabriel Martinelli scored the only goal of the game with a clever finish early into the second half.
The Gunners thought they were ahead in the first half but Leandro Trossard's goal was chalked out after Ben White appeared to hold goalkeeper Danny Ward's arm.
And the Gunners made a touching gesture to give Oleksandr Zinchenko captaincy a year on from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
- Result: Leicester 0-1 Arsenal
- Leicester XI: Ward; Castagne, Souttar, Faes, Kristiansen; Dewsbury-Hall, Ndidil; Tete, Praet, Barnes; Iheanacho
- Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Jorginho, Xhaka; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli
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Leicester needing to buck the trend
The Foxes could lose five consecutive games against Arsenal for the first time in 91 years.
Mikel Arteta's side are looking to win three consecutive away games in the league against Brendan Rodgers' side for the first time since 1925.
Leicester have only picked up 12 points from a possible 33 available at home this season.
Foxes still needing to edge away
Leicester find themselves only four points clear of the bottom three in the Premier League.
With fifteen games remaining in the season and plenty of points up for grabs, this means they could still be dragged into a relegation dogfight.
Brendan Rodgers’ side have found their form on the road being indifferent this season so they will need to pick up points at home to ensure their survival.
Arsenal boss speak about table-topping pressure
Mikel Arteta has spoken about whether there is less of a need to win on the road today, having taken all three points against Villa:
Maybe for the players it is, but for the manager it’s always about trying to get prepared mentally and tactically to try and understand what can happen in the game and have all the solutions available. The focus is just about earning the right to win the game, and how we can best prepare for that. Obviously, you have to influence sometimes the psychology part of the team, and sometimes it’s the mood, sometimes its physical condition of the team, sometimes it’s the tactical battle or gameplan, so at the end it’s a challenge every week in the league.
Mikel Arteta
Late drama at Villa Park
Mikel Arteta’s side left it late to take all three points in their last game, with a stunning Jorginho strike winning the game for The Gunners.
His effort thundered off the crossbar, hit Villa goalkeeper Martinez on the back of the head and went into the goal.
Gabriel Martinelli then added a fourth for Arsenal with a last-gasp break away from an Aston Villa corner to seal the game.
Welcome to Leicester vs Arsenal
Arsenal travel to the King Power Stadium today to face Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City, with the chance to open up a five-point gap at the top of the Premier League until Man City face Bournemouth in the evening kick-off today.
The Foxes treatment room is starting to empty somewhat over the last few weeks but James Maddison is a doubt for today’s game with a knee problem that has persistently troubled him over the course of this season.
Rodgers is also without the trio of James Justin, Jonny Evans and Ryan Bertrand for the visit of the league leaders.
Youri Tielemans was only on the bench against Man Utd at Old Trafford but could return today to face the side who have long been linked to him, more than likely coming in for the injured Maddison if his knee issue keeps him out.
Jamie Vardy has previously haunted Arsenal fans, having scored 11 goals against Mikel Arteta’s side is the most against a single opponent for the striker, but he has fallen down the pecking order in Brendan Rodgers’ plans so may not start today.
As for Arsenal. Gabriel Jesus and Mohamed Elneny are still on the comeback from their respective knee surgeries, while it remains to be seen if Thomas Partey will be back from his thigh problem in time for this afternoon’s game.
Arteta is hoping that the midfielder can shake off his injury in time for today’s game but he will not rush his comeback with Jorginho available, whose goal sparked a late victory at Villa Park in their last game.
Saka received some rough treatment against Aston Villa, but the 21-year-old is on the verge of becoming the sixth-youngest player to achieve 50 Premier League goal involvements, having scored 26 times and provided 23 assists in the top-flight to date.