Football is a funny old game. If you simply looked at the score line you’d think Arsenal battered Leicester City and weren’t under any stress or pressure. You would only be half right.

In the first half, it felt like the Gunners had 80% possession. Totally dominate, controlling the tempo and playing mostly at the edge of the Leicester City box.

The left-side of Arsenal; Riccardo Calafiori, Declan Rice and Gabriel Martinelli were combining very well and reading each others movements/runs in behind the defense. The trio created a handful of good scoring chances too.

Martinelli was the one to break the Foxes defense down first when he scored (20th minute) off a Jurrien Timber low-cross into the box, which he attacked vigorously and shot past Leicester City goalkeeper Mads Hermansen.

Mikel Arteta’s decision to play Timber at right-back, instead of Ben White, has really done wonders for the attack.

Earlier in the season, Bukayo Saka wasn’t getting any support from his full-back while opposing teams double-teamed him anytime he touched the ball. White’s been playing RB for the past season or two and had been solid playing out of his normal centerback position.

For whatever reason though, he hasn’t been nearly as effective this season, leaving Saka much too isolated.

Once Jurrien Timber came back from injury, and proved he could be a regular starter, Arteta made the change. Now, when teams double Saka they have to worry about Timber overlapping, receiving the ball and looking to send in a cross. His inclusion has made the team much more dangerous in attack. Plus, he’s a much better dribbler and passer than White. Two things the Englishman never seemed truly comfortable with. Timber also combines with Saka much more effectively, the two have good chemistry already. Unfortunately for Ben White, he might have to settle into being the 3rd CB and only coming in for a cameo appearance from time-to-time or if Arsenal want to go extremely defensive with 3 CB’s.

The same thing is happening at left-back with Ricardo Calafiori making an impact from that position so early into his Gunners career.

He’s more of a ball-carrying CB yet has shown more than enough skill and versatility to play slightly out of position.

Left-back has been a problem area for Mikel Arteta, with the players at his disposal being too attacking – inherently bad on the defensive end or always out of position. Or injury-prone players that are unreliable due to their fitness. He seemed desperate to find a naturally left-footed player to fill the gap.

In comes Calafiori who proved to be the answer to his problems with the Italian possessing strength, a knowledge of when to attack/get back in defense, an eye for goal and a combative, no nonsense attitude.

It was a good thing the club decided to make him their top transfer target in the summer and ultimately ended up purchasing him, as he’s a difference-maker.

As mentioned earlier, Leicester City were hemmed into their box with very little possession and had to resort to sending in long-ball’s over the top for ageless striker Jamie Vardy to latch onto and spring the Foxes attack forward.

Arsenal were so high up the pitch, they left only one CB back to defend Vardy – William Saliba. He did a fine job marshalling Vardy and mostly kept him under control. Even with the striker trying to get under the skin of the Frenchmen by being extra physical with him.

At one point, Jamie Vardy and Foxes manager Steve Cooper were shown yellow cards for insisting a foul had been committed, when it was clearly just good, hard and clean physical play.

Arsenal scored a 2nd goal (45+1) right before halftime when Saliba intercepted a Leicester pass near their box, found Declan Rice, who passed to Martinelli, with the Brazilian winger speeding past an LC defender – unsettling the back-4 and finally finding Leandro Trossard, who smartly and coolly finished past Mads Hermansen.

Everything was going the Gunners way and looked to continue into the 2nd half.

The second half was totally different for Arsenal.

It began to go wrong almost immediately when William Saliba picked up a yellow card, basically as the half started, for fouling Jamie Vardy, and had to play much more cautiously going forward.

The ensuing free-kick, earned from the infringement, led to Leicester City’s 1st goal (47th minute) when RB James Justin headed the out-swinging ball past David Raya. The header glanced off Kai Havertz and changed trajectory, which messed up Raya as he was leaning the opposite direction and couldn’t reposition quickly enough. The early goal filled the Foxes with confidence and embolden them in attack.

After the goal they had much more possession, forcing Arsenal back into a defensive shell and playing more on the counter-attack.

This didn’t work as James Justin scored the 2nd Leicester goal (62nd minute) off a lofted cross from Wilfred Ndidi.

Ricardo Calafiori had a chance to head the ball away but drifted too centrally and couldn’t recover quickly enough. Leandro Trossard also tried to affect the shot but was a split-second too late getting back.

To James’ credit, the technique he used to shoot and placement of the shot were absolutely perfect, leaving David Raya no chance at a save.

At this point, tension filled the air inside the Emirates Stadium as the fans knew dropping points was a possibility.

Earlier in the day Manchester City drew 1-1 with Newcastle, dropping points, so it was imperative Arsenal capitalized on their miscue.

Over the last 30-ish minutes, the Gunners threw wave-after-wave-after-wave at the Leicester City defense, generating plenty of scoring chances that were saved magnificently by Mads Hermansen. He was exceptional for the Foxes, standing on his head. Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Magalhães, Ethan Nwaneri and Ricardo Calafiori all had shots saved, the Nwaneri shot in particular was a great chance.

As the minutes counted down, with Leicester City employing time-wasting tactics, it felt like all hope was lost and the Gunners were going to drop points.

Bukayo Saka then stepped up to take Arsenal’s 17th corner of the match and fired the ball into the box.

Leandro Trossard, who was unmarked, found the ball at his feet and proceeded to cross it into a mess of players standing in-front of Mads Hermansen.

Fortuitously, for Arsenal, Wilfred Ndidi didn’t react quickly enough and the ball bounced off his thigh into the net (90+3).

Cue the Emirates, and the players, going absolutely bonkers! The full 3 points were theirs!

A couple of minutes later (90+8) Gabriel Jesus found himself running with the ball at a crumbling Leicester City defense and took a shot – which was saved. The ball then bounced off James Justin, right into the path of Kai Havertz, who tapped home the 4th goal of the match.

The assistant referee instantly raised his flag for offside and the goal was deemed ineligible. VAR had to get involved and, after a short review, the goal was awarded.

In the end, it was a good victory for the Gunners, even though they waited until almost the last kick of the match to score.

As for Leicester City, they held on as long as they could but were undone at the death. They, possibly, deserved a point up until they aggressively started to waste-time, tried to muddy the match and went fully defensively.

Next up for Arsenal is a midweek Champions League match. They will play host to Paris Saint-Germain, who are playing well and currently tied with AS Monaco at the top of Ligue 1.

Losing all-world talent Kylian Mbappé to Real Madrid on a free transfer hurt, but left-winger Bradley Barcola, right-winger Ousmane Dembélé and summer signing defensive midfielder João Neves have been excellent to start the season, powering their attack.

Marquinhos and Willian Pacho form a solid centerback pairing, with full-backs Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes using their athleticism to bomb up and down the flanks.

Warren Zaïre-Emery joins Neves in midfield with Fabián Ruiz, Lee Kang-in and Vitinha all playing depending on the matchup.

It will be another tough test for the club.

COME ON YOU GUNNERS!