Arsenal 3-1 Leicester City: Three things we learned

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LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 22: Harry Maguire of Leicester City looks on after Arsenal score for the third time during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Leicester City at Emirates Stadium on October 22, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /

A Mesut Özil masterclass condemned Leicester City to their second consecutive defeat in the Premier League. Here’s what we learned from their 3-1 loss to Arsenal:

Fluid 3-5-2 can work

There doesn’t remain a single Leicester fan who hasn’t exhorted Claude Puel to give up his obstinacy for once, and switch to a back three. The Frenchman duly obliged on Monday.

Inside the first ten minutes, there was a discernible difference between the Leicester that we had been seeing, and the Leicester that we were seeing. They simply looked better in the new system, further giving a solid surface to the claims that Puel’s current personnel is tailor-made for a 3-4-1-2.

What was most impressive is the fluidity of the shape, as Leicester constantly changed from 3-4-1-2 when attacking to a 4-5-1 when defending. It caused Arsenal all sorts of problems in the first half, and it was only when Unai Emery swapped his two wingers that Puel’s ploy was countered. There was no stopping the Gunners thereafter.

Regardless, the Leicester boss was happy with what he saw.

"“We tried to work on this when they came back from the internationals, to try to disturb Arsenal and to keep our quality in our play, to recover the ball and to play good football, and create good chances,” said Puel. “We played with this system and it was a brilliant first half. It was very interesting with good discipline and structure. “We have had the ball with good quality and we put them under pressure. They could not create chances and find a solution. Just perhaps from free-kicks. “We conceded this goal on a counter attack. We can manage this situation better. “It is a shame but I am happy with what we showed in this system, with the discipline and the quality, and perhaps there will be a good opportunity to play this system again. “We have the players to play in this system, with the centre backs, the wing backs with Ricardo Pereira and Ben Chilwell. “We have all the attributes to change system and it will be a good opportunity for the future.”"