Flying Foxes Climb To Second With Arsenal Triumph
A stunning opener from Jamie Vardy, the top-flight’s top goalscorer, was added to by a bullet by James Maddison at King Power Stadium to seal a fifth win in a row for the flying Foxes.
Manager Brendan Rodgers named an unchanged starting line-up for the third time in a row, meaning England left-back Ben Chilwell made his 100th senior appearance for City.
Following a faultless silence during the sounding of the Last Post on the Football Club’s annual Remembrance Fixture, Leicester started in breathless fashion, taking the game to their visitors.
Both Harvey Barnes and Maddison had already carved out half-chances 10 minutes in before a VAR check was required to examine a challenge by Matteo Guendouzi on Çağlar Söyüncü.
It came after Chilwell floated a perfect cross into the 18-yard box and, when Guendouzi appeared to pull Söyüncü back, the crowd called for a penalty, but the referee disagreed.
There were nervous moments for the Foxes, too, as both Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang spurned opportunities on the counter attack on Filbert Way.
Leicester were relentless and Ayoze Pérez seized on a loose ball to whip it over the bar, while Vardy was bitterly unlucky not to later get on the end of the Spaniard’s pass across goal.
Maddison also fired a free-kick mere inches over Bernd Leno’s crossbar before the half-time whistle, while Wilfred Ndidi went even closer, rattling the bar, after the interval.
David Luiz and Héctor Bellerín both smashed long-range efforts over for the Gunners and Aubameyang saw an effort chalked off for offside before City truly took charge of the clash.
Their opener was a classic example of the free-flowing football being played under Rodgers as Barnes played in Youri Tielemans, who in turn, found Vardy – and City’s No.9 did the rest.
The Club’s all-time top Premier League goalscorer tidily tucked it away into the bottom corner, before wheeling away, punching the corner flag, as the Blue Army danced deliriously.
Seven minutes later, it was 2-0 as it fell to Maddison on the cusp of the 18-yard box. The 22-year-old looked up and hit it, through the lefts of Bellerín, and into Leno’s bottom corner.
It could have been even better for the home side as Guendouzi almost nodded a Maddison corner into his own net, while Leno also had to save from Demarai Gray in the latter moments.
Major moment
City were largely in control for long spells of an enthralling clash on Filbert Way, but Arsenal were a threat on the counter and it took a moment of pure magic to break the deadlock.
The interplay between Harvey Barnes, Youri Tielemans and Jamie Vardy even silenced King Power Stadium for a moment – just a moment – before the ball rippled the back of Bernd Leno’s net.
Who impressed?
Gerry Taggart, speaking on LCFC Radio, said: "You could give it to four of five! Jonny Evans was absolutely unbelievable. Jamie Vardy and James Maddison's finishes were brilliant as well.
"But, when it boils down to those crucial moments in the game and you need that little bit of composure and class, there’s only one man for me – and that’s Youri Tielemans."
Where does it leave us?
Leicester’s best-ever start to a Premier League campaign sees them climb to second in the top-flight standings, six points behind unbeaten leaders Liverpool.
Level on 26 points with Chelsea, Brendan Rodgers’ men are also nine points above fifth-placed Sheffield United and sixth-placed Arsenal, who are separated by goal difference.
Coming up…
Many of the Club’s first team squad will now head out on international duty before returning to England to tackle Brighton & Hove Albion at AMEX Stadium on Saturday 23 November (3pm GMT kick-off).