Arsenal’s impressive run in the Premier League continued on Sunday as they edged a hapless Leceister 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium.
A Thomas Partey early goal set the Gunners on their way to victory, with Alexander Lacazette scoring from the spot in the second half to wrap up the win.
Backed by a roaring Emirates, Arsenal got off to a flying start and could have been given a seventh-minute penalty when Gabriel Martinelli went down in the box after a challenge, but the referee, who was unsighted, waved play on.
It did not take long for them to take the lead as Partey outjumped the defence and glanced a header into the back of the net in the 11th minute for the lead.
The Ghanaian almost made it two in the 19th minute after he picked up a precise pass on the edge of the box and immediately unleashed a shot on goal, but his effort only rattled the right post.
The Foxes were overrun for long periods, but came close to equalising in the 36th minute.
Harvey Barnes jumped high to meet a cross and glanced a promising header from close range towards the roof of the net, but Aaron Ramsdale pulled off a brilliant save to keep it out.
The Gunners picked the second half with similar momentum they finished the first, and came close to grabbing a second in the 51st minute when Saka picked up a lofted cross inside the box and fired a quick shot to the left post. His promising effort was kept out by Kasper Schmeichel, who pulled off a stunning save.
Four minutes later, Schmeichel was called into action once again, this time stopping Ben White’s attempt from hitting the back of the net.
Caglar Soyuncu then handled the ball inside the box just before the hour-mark, and after a long VAR check, the referee awarded Arsenal a penalty.
Lacazette then stepped up to stub the ball home into the top of the roof to end his nine-match goal drought.
With Leicester subdued, the Gunners had a number of chances to add to their tally, but good goalkeeping and desperate defending kept the score at 2-0 at full-time.
The win, their fifth in a row, put the Gunners in an enviable position in the race for Europe as they moved a point above Man United into fourth with three matches at hand.
