A few minutes of inspiration from Gabriel Martinelli were enough for Arsenal to add three key points against Leicester, defeated 0-1 with a goal in the second half from the Brazilian player, activator of the Premier League leader when he suffered to tear down the wall built by his rival.
Martinelli was the novelty for Arteta, who was right in the only change he made compared to last day. He sat Edward Nketiah on the bench, a more finishing striker and with better performance to set center-backs but with less overflow than his teammate. Arteta knew that his players were going to need some inspiration in a duel that was expected to be cumbersome.
And it is that, with obvious problems to add in their last matches, Arsenal had to face a difficult commitment. Leicester, not far from the relegation places, had to score points to avoid getting into trouble. Necessity is sometimes a danger and Arteta's men, hesitant in previous duels, faced a team that was not superfluous at all.
The suffering of Arsenal was a possibility, especially after losing to Everton (1-0) and City (1-3), drawing with Brentford (1-1) and winning on the horn last day against Aston Villa (2-4) thanks to a couple of goals in added time.
Although Martinelli couldn't unclog anything in the first half, he did in the early stages of the second. But, before his goal, Arsenal couldn't avoid a traffic jam they never wanted. Absolute controller of the game from the first minute, the Gunner box was not brilliant in the last stretch. That last pass, necessary to confirm so much dominance, never came in the first half. Neither Buyako Saka, not very fine in the last meters, nor Martin Odegaard, whose registration was taken, could provide that point of creativity necessary to break defenses.
The data for the first 45 minutes was revealing: there was no shot between the three sticks. While Arsenal did not find the way, Leicester were very imprecise when it came to mounting counterattacks.
Only a great goal disallowed by Leandro Trossard due to a previous foul by Ben White on goalkeeper Danny Ward, and another that did not go up to the scoreboard by Kelechi Iheanacho for offside either, broke the tedium at King Power Stadium, whose audience did not see much more before the break. Arsenal wanted to, but couldn't and another duel marked by suffering seemed to be coming to get the three points.
However, Arsenal's lack of clear-sightedness ended a minute after the restart, when Gabriel Martinelli hit the target after taking advantage of a masterful pass from Trossard, who enabled the Brazilian player with a pass between Harry Souttar's legs to leave the Brazilian player alone in front of Ward.
Martinelli's goal definitely activated his team, which immediately ordered another goal, again canceled and the work of Saka, who stopped his celebration when the linesman raised the flag to signal Martinelli's clear offside. Undoubtedly, the Brazilian became the agitator of a duel that had become entrenched for the Gunner team, which under the baton of their player scared away another possible mess.
Although Arsenal only electrified the duel for a few minutes, it was enough to add another three very important points in the fight for the title. Leicester tried to equalize without success and almost without chances, although Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, with a left-footed shot from outside the area, scared Aaron Ramsdale. Besieged in the last moments, Arsenal held on and survived a difficult clash of those who give titles. And, on this occasion, Martinelli's success was key.
0.- Leicester: Ward; Castagne (Pereira, 85 mins), Souttar, Faes, Kristiansen; Dewsbury-Hall, Fish (Summer, 78 min.); Tete (Tielemans, 62 mins), Praet (Daka, 77 mins), Barnes; Iheanacho (Vardy, 62 mins).
1.- Arsenal: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko (Tomiyasu, min. 93); Odegaard (Partey, min. 84), Jorginho, Xhaka; Saka, Martinelli y Trossard (Nketiah, min. 70).
Goals: 0-1, min. 46: Martinelli.
Referee: Craig Pawson. He showed Martinelli a yellow card (min. 39)
Incidents: match corresponding to the twenty-fifth day of the Premier League played at the King Power Stadium in Leicester before 32,227 spectators.
