Gabriel Martinelli’s winner was his ninth goal of the Premier League seasonGabriel Martinelli’s goal was enough to extend Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League with a hard-fought win at Leicester City. The Brazilian struck in the first minute of the second half, latching on to a deft pass from Leandro Trossard to roll his shot past Danny Ward. Trossard had a fine first-half goal disallowed after Arsenal’s Ben White held Ward in the build-up. Arsenal lead Manchester City by five points before Pep Guardiola’s side face Bournemouth in Saturday’s 17:30 GMT kick-off. Leicester, who remained 14th, were lackluster although Kelechi Iheanacho had a goal flagged for offside shortly after Trossard’s disallowed effort and Anthony Dewsbury-Hall curled a shot just wide in the que second half. a first league title since 2003-04 appeared to be faltering when they lost 3-1 to City on 15 February, but they have bounced back with a maximum return of six points from two testing away t rips. Gunners struggle for fluency but do enough Arsenal’s recent league wobble, which saw Arteta’s side drop seven points from a possible nine, may be behind them but they struggled to hit their fluent best at King Power Ear Stadium. Mikel Arteta’s side dominated possession in the stages and seemed to have hit their stride when the game’s first controversial moment occurred. Trossard’s brilliant curling shot from outside the area was initially given as a goal, but referee Craig Pawson overturned it for sustained holding Ben after consulting the video resistee. had his left arm around Ward’s right as the ball came over at a corner, while White and Ashley Barnes also appeared to collide during the same incident. Arsenal’s sense of injustice increased a few minutes later when their claims for a penalty, after Bukayo Saka tang with Harry Souttar, were waved away by Pawson. Martinelli grabbed his ninth goal of the league season just 51 seconds into the second half when he calmly stroked the ball past Ward, sustaining a painful blow to the right leg when Wilfred Ndidi accidentally trod on him in the process of scoring. Saka also had a goal ruled out when Martinelli was flagged for offside, but Arsenal struggled to impose themselves as the second half progressed. Oleksandr Zinchenko, given the captain’s armband by his club as a mark of respect in the week of the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of his native Ukraine, came close to a second goal in as many games when Ward pushed away the defender’s curling shot. After this win and victory at Aston Villa a week ago, Arsenal now have the chance to make the most of home advantage against opposition in the lower reaches of the table, as they face Everton on Wednesday and Bournemouth next Saturday. More to followPlayer of the matchGabriel MartinelliGabriel MartinelliLeicester CitySquad number7Player nameBarnesSquad number27Player nameCastagneSquad number14Player nameIheanachoSquad number16Player name KristiansenSquad number22Player nameDewsbury-HallSquad number15Player nameSouttarSquad number1Player nameWardSquad number37Player nameTetêSquad number25Player nameNdidiSquad number26Player namePraetSquad number3Player nameFaesSquad number8Player nameTielemansSquad number21Player nameRicardo PereiraSquad number20Player nameDakaSquad number9Player nameVardySquad number42Player nameSoumaréLine-upsLeicesterFormation 4-3-31Ward27Castagne15Souttar3Faes16Kristiansen26Praet25Ndidi22Dewsbury-Hall37Tetê14Iheanacho7Barnes1Ward27CastagneSubstituted forRicardo Pereiraat 85’minutes15Souttar3Faes16Kristiansen26PraetSubstituted forDakaat 77’minutes25NdidiSubstituted forSoumaréat 77’minutes22Dewsbury -Hall37TetêSubstituted forTielemansat 62’minutes14IheanachoSubstituted forVardyat 62’minutes7BarnesSubstitutes8Tielemans9Vardy18Amartey20Daka21Ricardo Pereira24Mendy31Iversen33Thomas42SoumaréArsenalFormation 4-3-31Ramsdale4White12Saliba6Gabriel35Zinchenko8Ødegaard20Jorginho34Xhaka7Saka19Trossard11Martinelli 1Ramsdale4White12Saliba6Gabriel35ZinchenkoSubstituted forTomiyasuat 90+3’minutes8ØdegaardSubstituted forParteyat 84’minutes20Jorginho34Xhaka7Saka19TrossardSubstituted forNketiahat 70’minutes11MartinelliBooked at 38minsSubstitutes3Tierney5Partey10Smith Rowe14Nketiah15Kiwior16Holding18Tomiyasu21Fábio Vieira30TurnerReferee:Craig PawsonAttendance:32,227Live TextMatch ends, Leicester City 0, Arsenal 1.Second Half ends, Leicester City 0, Arsenal 1.Hand ball by Harvey Barnes (Leicester City). Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Harry Souttar. Substitution, Arsenal. Takehiro Tomiyasu replaces Oleksandr Zinchenko. Delay over. They are ready to continue. Delay in match because of an injury Youri Tielemans (Leicester City). Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Patson Daka (Leicester City). Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Youri Tielemans (Leicester City). Substitution, Leicester City. Ricardo Pereira replaces Timothy Castagne. Offside, Arsenal l. Ben White tries a through ball, but Eddie Nketiah is caught offside. Substitution, Arsenal. Thomas Partey replaces Martin Ødegaard. Delay over. They are ready to continue. Delay in match because of an injury Jorginho (Arsenal). Offside, Leicester City. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall tries a through ball, but Harvey Barnes is caught offside.Substitution, Leicester City. Boubakary Soumaré replaces Wilfred Ndidi.Substitution, Leicester City. Patson Daka replaces Dennis Praet.Foul by Bukayo Saka (Arsenal).Our coverage of your Premier League club is bigger and better than ever before – here’s everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment
