‘Hold Our Heads High’ – Justin’s Arsenal Reaction

- Leicester City were beaten 4-2 by Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Saturday
- James Justin scored twice for the Foxes in the Premier League clash
- The defender assessed a disappointing ending, conceding twice in stoppage-time
- His goals had brought City back from two down in the first half

Two stoppage-time strikes from the hosts – a Wilfred Ndidi own goal followed by Kai Havertz’s finish – saw the Gunners claim all three Premier League points in the capital, after Steve Cooper’s side showed great character to come from two goals down in the first half and level things up.

The defender commented after full-time on Saturday: “It's a painful loss to be honest in the way that we did it and we brought it back in the second half. We're a bit deflated.

“I think the lads were just disappointed in how passive we were in the first half, so we decided to go for it, really and it proved to be a good thing in the second half. We got on the front foot a bit more and caused them a few more problems.

“In the end, when they have that many shots, it's hard for them not to score, to be honest. We were tired, but we knew it was going to be a long time because obviously we'd been taking our time in the second half with things.

“But we've got to defend for all of the minutes in the game and they broke us down right at the end. Obviously, they were competing for the title last year, when we were in the Championship.

“It's a testament to us how well we competed against them. I wouldn't say we were close to being the best team in the game, but we came here to do a job, and we almost did that. It's gutting, but we gave it our all and I can say we can hold our heads high.”

The full-back scored both of City’s goals in north London, heading home Facundo Buonanotte’s free-kick before expertly volleying in Ndidi’s cross; an early Goal of the Season contender, though it ultimately wasn’t enough.

The 26-year-old explained: “It was a set piece from our set piece coach and he's given us a few good things this year, and they seem to be paying off well, and I was just right place right time, and luckily it went in.

“I think it went in off my shoulder actually, to be honest, but you take them all and they all count as one. To score it here, in front of all of these fans and all the travelling fans, it was a big thing. And as it left my foot, it's just one of those ones where you know.

“It was from our hard work from all of the defending we'd done throughout the game when we get our chance to take them and we did in that moment. And obviously the result wasn't for us at the end of the day. But we can say we gave it our all.”