The match went as expected, with Arsenal dominating possession while Leicester City, known as the Foxes, focused on defending from the start.
Arsenal had their first real chance after 15 minutes when Gabriel Martinelli found himself in a good position. However, he hesitated to shoot with his right foot and switched to his left, allowing Leicester’s defense to close in.
Five minutes later, Martinelli made up for it by confidently shooting with his right foot from the center of the box. Despite mishitting it, the ball found its way into the corner of the net, giving Arsenal the lead and marking Martinelli’s first goal of the season, likely boosting his confidence.
Arsenal maintained pressure, keeping possession and winning several corners, but struggled against Leicester’s organized defense, which earned several yellow cards. Just before halftime, Kai Havertz nearly scored with a powerful header that went narrowly wide.
Despite having five corners in the first half, Arsenal couldn’t convert, as Leicester crowded the six-yard box. The half was largely uneventful, but just before the break, Martinelli created space on the left wing and delivered a great pass to Leandro Trossard, who scored, doubling Arsenal’s lead. The match felt one-sided, with Leicester seemingly unable to respond.
The second half started surprisingly, with Leicester quickly attacking. William Saliba fouled Jamie Vardy, earning a yellow card, and from the resulting free-kick, Leicester equalized when a header deflected off Gabriel’s shoulder, leaving goalkeeper David Raya helpless. The game suddenly opened up.
Arsenal quickly regained control, with Bukayo Saka delivering a threatening corner that found Gabriel, whose header was brilliantly saved by Leicester’s goalkeeper, Hermansen.
Five minutes later, Trossard was well set up by Saka, but Hermansen made another impressive save to keep Leicester in the game.
For much of the second half, Arsenal controlled possession, but Leicester began to find their rhythm around the hour mark. Facundo Buonanotte made a strong run down the left, though his shot failed to challenge Raya.
Leicester’s confidence grew, and they shocked Arsenal with a stunning volley from Jossie, leveling the score at 2-2 with 25 minutes to go. Arsenal pressed for the lead but wasted several corner opportunities. Havertz found himself well-positioned but shot straight at Hermansen, who made another key save. Arsenal continued to attack, earning an 11th corner with 18 minutes left, but Gabriel’s header was blocked again.
Shortly after, Leicester’s goalkeeper mishandled a clearance, giving Declan Rice the chance to set up Trossard, who was again denied by Hermansen. Leicester attempted a speculative shot from Wilfred Ndidi, but it was their fifth effort compared to Arsenal’s 29, and the score remained tied as time ran out.
In the final moments, Saka tried one of his signature moves, cutting inside from the right but was fouled at the edge of the box. The referee let play continue, a decision that could spark controversy.
Mikel Arteta brought on Ethan Nwaneri for the last five minutes, and the young player almost made an immediate impact, nearly scoring as Arsenal increased their intensity.
Arsenal earned one last corner, and Luca Calafiori connected with what seemed to be a perfect header, but once again, Hermansen made a crucial save, securing a 2-2 draw for Leicester. Despite Arsenal’s clear dominance, they couldn’t find a winner, resulting in shared points.