Vardy grabs Leicester important point at the Emirates

They may have not picked up the win, but this may have been a result Leicester look back on when the season concludes on July 26.

The Foxes headed to the Emirates Stadium in what has been a graveyard for them, five visits, five defeats, but with their position in the top four uncertain, they had to put this poor record, right.

Their opponents Arsenal, were on a wave of form, four games, four wins and were unbeaten at home in the league in this calandar year, but in what has been a heavily congested fixture where sides could play two games a week, there’s no guarantee this run would continue.

Leicester had the first big chance of the match, Marc Albrighton’s first time ball into the box, found, Kelechi Iheanacho by the penalty spot, whose shot was well saved by Arsenal keeper, Emiliano Martinez.

But it would be Arsenal who took the lead on 20 minutes. Dani Ceballos’s well-weighted throughball found Bukayo Saka. He conned Jonny Evans, by switching it from his stronger left to his right and directed the ball into Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who tapped it home from close range.

For the next 15-20 minutes, Arsenal set the tempo. They controlled the possession and dominated in chances. The best of them coming just on half hour. Saka almost got his second assist of the game, when he played it to Alexandre Lacazatte, who forced a save out of Kasper Schmeichel.

But Leicester deal with it Ndidi was dispossed by Kieran Tierney, who started the switch of play to fellow wing-back Hector Bellerin, who if it wasn’t for Schmeichel tipping it over, would have made it two and in truth put the game out the visitors’ reach.

Brendan Rodgers’ side did start to find their feet towards the end of the half, and did find the net through Jamie Vardy, but it was ruled out for offside.

Vardy would be a huge talking point of the match. Just before the break he collided with Skhodran Mustafi, and appeared to have booted him in the face. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was incensed that he wasn’t sent off, though the officials were adamant it wasn’t deliberate. It was a decision that Arteta would rue come full-time.

Leicester started to go for it after the interval, and almost equalised in the 55th minute. Wilfried Ndidi took the ball from Granit Xhaka, and released Vardy, his well timed and well placed crossed to Iheanacho, was equally well saved by Martinez.

Martinez then kept out Harvey Barnes header which was creeping into the bottom corner.

But then with 15 minutes to go, a huge decision. Eddie Nketiah who had been on for a matter of seconds, had brought down Leicester’s James Justin. However after VAR discovered that Nketiah had shown studs in his challenge, he was sent off by Chris Kavanagh.

The Foxes took advantage off having an extra-man, and with six minutes of normal time, equalised. Demarai Gray, low driven cross found Vardy, who found the net. The man who Arteta felt should been sent off, was the man who sent Leicester home with a point.

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Though they didn’t end their 47 year wait for a win at Arsenal, it’s still was a vital result for Rodgers men. They only need 10 points for their final four matches to secure their place in next season’s Champions League. They travel to relegation haunted Bournemouth

For Arsenal the result would have moved them just six points behind last night’s opponents and three points behind Manchester United, really putting them in the hunt for a place in Europe’s top table.

But there were positives for Arteta’s side, going forward they are really looking a threat, and caused many problems to Leicester, especially in the first 45. There were standout performances for Kieran Tierney, Dani Ceballos and Bukayo Saka, who were the architect of the majority of the Gunners’ breaks and chances. They travel to North London rivals’ Tottenham on Sunday.