Mesut Ozil inspires Arsenal's 10th win in a row as super-sub Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang nets twice in three mins
Maybe Arsenal have finally found their new captain, leader, artist. Give Mesut Ozil the armband from the start and he responds with a superb goal, a sublime pass and a wonderful dummy to play a crucial part in all three goals, turning around a deficit against Leicester City and piling the pressure on their manager, Claude Puel.
It was a rough night for Leicester, with Puel’s future in serious doubt once again having already been on the brink earlier this season, but it propelled Arsenal into the top four with a seventh Premier League win in a row and their 10th overall: a perfect 10 with a perfect performance from their No 10.
It is also the first time since October 2007 that Arsenal have recorded such a sequence of results while, deliciously for them, they leap-frogged Tottenham Hotspur on goal difference. Interestingly, they have been drawing at half-time in all seven of those league games before prevailing.
It was a remarkable display given Arsenal were out-played in the first half. They should have conceded a penalty and Leicester also struck the crossbar before falling behind after the break to two predatory goals in 130 seconds from substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Once again Unai Emery’s side were transformed as they rode their luck and took advantage, with Ozil departing to a standing ovation. He was at once creator and destroyer. “We’ve got Ozil,” sang the Arsenal fans, and it felt like every one of them joined in that gleeful, galvanising chorus.
The third goal was a thing of beauty – a lovely trend that Arsenal are beginning to set after Aaron Ramsey’s strike against Fulham in their last league game. It truly began with a ‘no look’ flick in the centre circle by Ozil to substitute Matteo Guendouzi who played the ball on to Hector Bellerin. The Spaniard took two touches and passed infield towards Ozil who brilliantly dummied, allowing it to run to Alexandre Lacazette. His first-time pass was precise for Ozil, who had ghosted past Harry Maguire, with the play-maker then lifting the ball with the outside of his left boot for Aubameyang to side-foot into the net.
In all, from goalkeeper Bernd Leno, 10 Arsenal players (Alex Iwobi was the odd man out) touched the ball – with 16 touches between them - without a Leicester player doing so. “I think we played some sexy football tonight,” Ozil later tweeted. And that was the climax.
Leicester, after their early dominance, were left feeling sick and, in the case of Jamie Vardy, quite literally so with the striker sprinting down the tunnel before the end, leaving his team down to 10 men, as he was overcome by nausea.
As that third goal was scored it was a far cry from the first half and the first minute of that half when Kelechi Iheanacho tore into space left by makeshift left-back Stephan Lichtsteiner and was only denied a goal when his shot deflected off Rob Holding’s back.
It was a turbulent time for the centre-half as Leicester remorselessly attacked down that flank. He was cautioned for pulling back Iheanacho and then should have conceded a penalty, and with it a second yellow card and dismissal, when he clearly punched the ball as he challenged the forward while both attempting to reach a Maguire header from a free-kick.
Astonishingly, referee Chris Kavanagh, who had an unimpeded view, waved away the appeals and Leicester were left understandably incensed. After the holding from Holding had come the handling, but Arsenal were handed a reprieve.
It proved temporary. Leno, who had already saved well from Iheanacho, superbly turned away a Maguire header but was finally beaten when Ben Chilwell burst past Bellerin and crossed, with the ball deflecting off the right-back’s right boot to wrong-foot the goalkeeper and find the net.
That was deserved, although the game’s pivotal moment came just before half-time as Ozil took over. He ran from half-way, picking out Bellerin and then taking the return ball in his stride to open up his body and side-foot accurately past goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. It was his third goal in four league games and with it Ozil became the all-time top-scoring German in the English top flight with 30 goals, one ahead of Jurgen Klinsmann.
Suddenly the momentum switched but it was Leicester who again went close when Wilfried Ndidi rose to power a header from a corner, with Leno stranded, that thudded back off the bar.
The moment signalled changes with Aubameyang and Guendouzi coming on and Granit Xhaka proving a far more effective temporary left-back than Lichtsteiner. By now it was the Ozil show and it was a wonderfully-weighted pass that bisected Chilwell and Jonny Evans for Bellerin to run onto and cross. Aubameyang tucked it home with his first touch.
The striker’s second, which killed the contest, was even better and after that it was merely a question of how many as Lacazette fluffed a couple of chances, denying Ozil yet another assist. It did not really matter. It was already Ozil’s night, one of his best nights in an Arsenal shirt.
Full time: Arsenal 3 Leicester 1
First 30 were all Leicester, and then Arsenal have absolutely crushed them.
90+ mins: Arsenal 3 Leicester 1
With two of the three minutes added, LCFC have a chance for a consolation when they get a freekick. They stick it in the mixer, but Arsenal clear with some assurance, and that is going to be the lot
87 mins: Arsenal 3 Leicester 1
Jamie Vardy is coming off the pitch - even though Leicester have used up all their subs! He heads off down the tunnel.
Vardy has run straight down the tunnel whilst the ball is still in play. No sub, no stoppage, he has just gone.
— James Benge (@jamesbenge) October 22, 2018
They're going to see this out with ten men. They could have 13 and I think they'd still be getting a schooling to be honest. Arsenal have been irresistible since 44th minute.
83 mins: Arsenal 3 Leicester 1
Iwobi pulls out to the right - Leicester are getting a proper hiding here, they just cannot keep up. Iwobi threads the ball into the area, Lacazette hits the ball crisply first time but he has to lean behind himself to reach it, and the shot goes over.
80 mins: Arsenal 3 Leicester 1
Ozil is subbed off to hearty applause, as he should be. Ramsey comes on.
79 mins: Arsenal 3 Leicester 1
Now it is Iwobi who produces a moment of magic, releasing Ozil with some lovely quick feet. Ozil crosses and it looks like Lacazette is going to have a tap in, but Peter's Boy leaps in the way and just gets hold of it. Goal-saving moment.
76 mins: Arsenal 3 Leicester 1
Albrighton challenges Torreira but gets a bit of him. The Uruguay man eats up a few seconds with a nice roll on the floor. Albrighton, irritated, grabs at him and tells him to get up. He wants to watch it, Marc, having already been booked.
74 mins: Arsenal 3 Leicester 1
Maddison gets the hook in favour of Okazaki as Puel plays his final card.
73 mins: Arsenal 3 Leicester 1
Ghezzal on for Ricardo Pereira. Leicester must be shellshocked. They hit the bar, and have then promptly been taken apart by Ozil.
70 mins: Arsenal 3 Leicester 1
When #AFC decide to turn up for the first 45 minutes of games, they are going to be some side. Remarkable how this keeps happening.
— Sam Dean (@SamJDean) October 22, 2018
Here they come again. Aubameyang rapid and dangerous, stopped by hook or by crook.
GOAL! Arsenal 3 Leicester 1 (Aubameyang 66)
Oh that is absolutely lovely football! Ball is out to Bellerin on the right, he plays it in, and Ozil dummies over the ball for Aubameyang and peels around to the inside right channel. Aubameyang plays him, Ozil latches onto the ball and sends it back into the area with a deftly controlled lofted side foot, and there's that man Aubameyang with the simplest of tap-ins. Really a beautiful goal.
Who could've thought putting Xhaka at left back would create all this fluidity.
— Michiel Jongsma (@JongsmaJongsma) October 22, 2018
It is true! Xhaka moving to LB has totally freed up the system.
64 mins: Arsenal 2 Leicester 1
Two quick bookings for LCFC. First Albrighton, and now Ricardo for dragging back Aumbameyang.
GOAL! Arsenal 2 Leicester 1 (Aubameyang 62)
Mesut Ozil, wee magician that he is, has absolutely unlocked that defence. A gorgeous pass through sends Bellerín into acres down the right, a nice crisp cross, and a lovely calm finish from Aubameyang. Highly satisfying stuff for Emery, not least because he had just brought on the sub!
62 mins: Arsenal 1 Leicester 1
Marc Albrighton comes on. Iheanacho, who was mustard in the first 30 but has been quieter since, comes on.
60mins: Arsenal 1 Leicester 1
Double change for the Arsenal. Mkhitaryan and Lichtsteiner are the men who make way. Guendouzi and Aubameyang are the men who come on.
Xhaka moves to left back.
57 mins: Arsenal 1 Leicester 1
Still, against the run of play, Leicester have hit the bar. Maguire is one of three on the penalty spot in a mini Love Train, a la England. The ball is delivered in, and Ndidi has crashed a header against the bar! Cracking header.
55 mins: Arsenal 1 Leicester 1
They are camped in the Leicester half. I expect several yellows for the Blues over the next few minutes, they cannot get a foot on the ball at all.
Leicester haven't had a shot since the 20th minute (I guess we're marking their goal as cross that was og'd in)
53 mins: Arsenal 1 Leicester 1
Miles better from Arsenal this half.
51 mins: Arsenal 1 Leicester 1
Panic stations for the men from the East Midlands. Mendy with a nervous ball back to the keeper, Lacazette gets there first and clips it into the box. Henrikh Mkhitaryan slices the effort wide.
50 mins: Arsenal 1 Leicester 1
It is all hands to the pump for Leicester. Vardy has kicked a lump out of Ozil.
48 mins: Arsenal 1 Leicester 1
Alex Iwobi growing by the minute in this game, the clever and quick Lacazette sends him through and he crosses, only just away from a couple of late breaking Arsenal colleagues.
46 mins: Arsenal 1 Leicester 1
We are underway. No personnel changes that I can see.
A good point this
from well-known Pollyanna Sutton, C.
.@5liveSport The Ozil goal was simply stunning ���� He is a player people focus too much on the negatives with... that was awesome!!
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) October 22, 2018
Half time: Arsenal 1 Leicester 1
Leicester had a great start to the match, bright and buzzy, and were worthy leaders after the half hour, when Bellerin deflected Chilwell's shot into the net. Arsenal rallied and levelled thanks to Ozil just before the half, but on balance LCFC will be a little disappointed not to be ahead.
Leicester really impressive in that first half. Interesting shape without possession, basically a 5-2-3 with Vardy and Iheanacho dropping either side of Maddison and breaking into channels. Iheanacho is causing Holding serious problems.
— Michael Cox (@Zonal_Marking) October 22, 2018
GOAL! Arsenal 1 Leicester 1 (Ozil 44)
Classy goal from Arsenal. Ozil starts the move, surges forward and then sends it out to Bellerin, who has hurtled down the right. He delivers a perfect ball back into the German, who slots it home with a lovely, cushioned finish. Super move. Having done not much, Ozil's on the scoresheet and, having done not much, Arsenal are back on terms.
41 mins: Arsenal 0 Leicester 1
Iwobi a constant danger at the minute, I am impressed with this likable guy, full o' beans. He has won a corner. And now he has had a handy shot at goal.
38 mins: Arsenal 0 Leicester 1
Handy ball into the box from Lichtsteiner as he crosses, it is half cleared. Maddison shoves Torreira as they both battle for the ball. Useful position for the freekick. Xhaka wastes it.
36 mins: Arsenal 0 Leicester 1
Lacazette looking a cut above the rest of the Arsenal forwards, not least in terms of energy. Iwobi also quite bright, I suppose. Wee Mesut has done naff all. Ditto Mikky Mkhitaryan.
34 mins: Arsenal 0 Leicester 1
Xhaka stamped on the foot of Maddison as they both stretched for the ball. Ouch. Booked.
31 mins: Arsenal 0 Leicester 1
Ndidi fouls Lacazette, who makes a bit of a meal of his landing I personally though. Anyway, Arsenal have an excellent position for a freekick. Xhaka gets it over the wall, and Kasper has to tip it over.
GOAL! Leicester have the lead
They need some luck to get it, but they absolutely deserve it. Harry Maguire shows more heart than Ozil (no, really) to get to the ball, and his hard work gives a teammate the chance to play it forward. Chilwell races onto it, surges into the area and hits a shot at goal. Huge deflection off Bellerin gives Arsenal keeper Leno no chance, and the bubbling, busy visitors have the lead. Arsenal 0 Leicester City 1 (Bellerín OG 31)
25 mins: Arsenal 0 Leicester 0
Iwobi and Lacazette combine, get the break of the ball. The latter unleashes a shot, but not on target. Gave it a bloody good crack mind you.
22 mins: Arsenal 0 Leicester 0
Arsenal have been under the pump, but they are not the lily-livered bunch of last year, or at least not quite so much. They roll up their sleeves and take the fight to the Foxes. Mutafi can break and shoot. Arsenal have a corner. A chance to apply some pressure.
Emery has done a fine job so far but the Emirates still makes Highbury seem as loud as a Motörhead concert.
— John Brewin (@JohnBrewin_) October 22, 2018
19 mins: Arsenal 0 Leicester 0
Leicester are all over the Arsenal! A corner now, and Maguire has a free header. Looks like he and Ndidi must be offside surely, but apparently not, and Leno produces a super save.
17 mins: Arsenal 0 Leicester 0
Holding booked for Holding, and now he should have had a second yellow for handling. Clear penalty!!
16 mins: Arsenal 0 Leicester 0
Iheanacho has a chance to run into the channel and this time Rob Holding has to stop him unfairly. A yellow card for Holding for holding.
15 mins: Arsenal 0 Leicester 0
Young Maddison gets an opportunity from, and wastes and opportunity from, a direct free kick.
14 mins: Arsenal 0 Leicester 0
Stephan Lichtsteiner has tried his luck from range, but it's nothing to write home about.
12 mins: Arsenal 0 Leicester 0
Lacazette again acquainting himself with the turf in that penalty area, this time Evans was the man who made some sort of contact with him. He looks a threat. Alexandre, not Jonny. But it's Leicester who have been the more impressive side thus far with their direct, rapid runs.
7 mins: Arsenal 0 Leicester 0
Mkhitaryan dinks it to Lacazette, who is down in the area under the attention of Amartey but thwre is no serious claim for a foul.
5 mins: Arsenal 0 Leicester 0
Bellerín is not in position, Arsenal are getting overloaded down the flanks. Iheanacho curls the shot at goal. Palmed behind.
Mkhitaryan blocks Vardy from the corner. Paging Dr Seenemgiven
2 mins: Arsenal 0 Leicester 0
... but not the second one! Goodness me, Iheanacho is clear! Only a corner.
Ndidi played it into the great wide open spaces where full-back Lichtsteiner wasn't... He takes on Holding, but the Arse defender deflects it behind for a corner.
1 mins: Arsenal 0 Leicester 0
Leicester trying a couple of direct early balls. First one draws an offside flag...
Anyway
The teams are ready, Leicester City have the ball, and they are kicking off.
I had no idea what this meant
SCOUT: James Maddison has gained over one million new #FPL managers since GW1 ��#ARSLEIpic.twitter.com/UQ2vFugxlo
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) October 22, 2018
Some sort of fantasy football rubbish I suppose.
The Alan Smith derby
Is how people are billing this one! Ha. What a fantastic footballer - and indeed colleague - Alan was/is.
Nice piece from
Telegraph Sport wonderkid Sam Dean here on Alex Lacazette.
How Alexandre Lacazette turned his Arsenal career around - but Unai Emery demands more @SamJDeanhttps://t.co/RpC03T06xJpic.twitter.com/2WHZh1QCtz
— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) October 22, 2018
Whispering Claude
No idea what he has said.
Unai Emery
"We cannot play with two strikers in all matches, we want also the balance of the midfield."
Arsenal lining up with a back five
Four players and then chappy from Sky as an additional right back.
Six if you count feller on the big display screen.
Super sub
Understand Graeme Souness will replace Rafa Benitez... as the analyst in the studio for Sky's Monday Night Football. Benitez had agreed to do show on proviso NUFC got a positive result against Brighton, and that didn't happen.
— Craig Hope (@CraigHope_DM) October 22, 2018
Curious to my mind that they haven't got Souey off the long run about that rude Chelsea coach yet. I was fully expecting a nice bit of "If he'd done that to me and Joe Jordan we'd have pulled off his arms" or somesuch.
Carragher is at it with his pokey wokey
They look quite sweet
Aerobic fwends.
Gearing up for the Gunners ��#ArsLeipic.twitter.com/IgoqjRRkeR
— Leicester City (@LCFC) October 22, 2018
Those teams again
Arsenal: Leno, Bellerin, Mustafi, Holding, Lichtsteiner, Torreira, Xhaka, Mkhitaryan, Ozil, Iwobi, Lacazette. Subs: Ramsey, Aubameyang, Welbeck, Martinez, Guendouzi, Smith-Rowe, Medley.
Leicester: Schmeichel, Amartey, Evans, Maguire, Chilwell, Mendy, Ndidi, Ricardo Pereira, Iheanacho, Maddison, Vardy. Subs: Soyuncu, Albrighton, Ward, Okazaki, Iborra, Fuchs, Ghezzal.
Referee: Chris Kavanagh (Lancashire)
Souey's up
Good to see master pundit Graeme Souness on @SkySportsMNF tonight. This is like when a cast member of 'Dallas' used to appear in 'Knots Landing'. #ARSLEI
— Daniel Ruiz Tizon (@1607WestEgg) October 22, 2018
Emery on Ozil
Unai Emery believes Mesut Ozil’s retirement from international football could help the German playmaker in his efforts to adapt to the club’s new style of football.
Ozil has yet to hit his best form under Emery, the Arsenal head coach, but has had more time to train in the international break following his decision to stop playing for Germany.
If he had not called time on his international career, Ozil would have faced challenging trips to Holland and France in the Nations League.
“It is not easy as they are playing two matches,” Emery said of those who featured for their national teams.
“When the players stop for these games, maybe it can do the focus more for us, with training and improving on things. It could help him find our idea more quickly.”
Unai Emery: International retirement will help Mesut Ozil adapt to my style of football
Here is Leicester
they are attempting to do something no Leicester side has done before: beat Arsenal at this ground.
Here’s tonight’s #lcfc team to play Arsenal! ��#ArsLeipic.twitter.com/FWJeUr2rjG
— Leicester City (@LCFC) October 22, 2018
Here is the Arsenal side
The teams are in - here's how we line up against @LCFC ��#ARSLEIpic.twitter.com/tSGLtpLtex
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) October 22, 2018
BET NOW!!
We've got a new pal on the Telegraph Sport's team, name of Ross Clarke, and he's our minister in charge of betting. He's done a nice preview of this match, if you are of a punting persuasion.
Read Ross Clarke's betting guide for tonight's match >>
I quite like the font on this
⏪ Throwin' it back to the 1965/66 season...
Tonight's #ARSLEI programme is looking �� pic.twitter.com/byLSyRNApb— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) October 22, 2018
Good evening
Welcome to our Monday night game, on an evening which has one or two curios under the watchful eye of our relentless blogging operation. Dan Zeqiri is keeping tabs on the Cristiano Ronaldo press conference: the player is addressing the media ahead of Juventus's Champions League match with Manchester United in the week.
Towards the other end of the footballing glamour stakes, Alistair Tweedale is on duty for the FA Cup first round draw.
But my own attentions will be fully focused on this match between Arsenal and Leicester City at the Emirates.
Arsenal, going along nicely enough in fifth, will hope to welcome back Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is available for selection having returned from Africa Cup of Nations duty for his home country of Gabon.
Joining him on the Arsenal active roster, if that was a thing, which it is not, are Mesut Ozil, Petr Cech and Ainsley Maitland-Niles. Poor old Sokratis hurt his ankle playing for Greece, the silly Papastathopoulos, so he probably won't start.
For the Foxes, Wes Morgan will be sitting this one out: he got a ban for his red card against Everton.
I will have the team news for you as soon as I can.