Leicester City won away at Arsenal for the first time in 47 years thanks to a Jamie Vardy goal to propel the Foxes into the Top 4. But how did they do it?
Admit it – you cursed at your dodgy stream because you refused to pay £15 to watch a Leicester side that didn’t look like they were going to score if they were still playing as you’re reading this now didn’t you? You looked at the team at the start of the game, which was nothing like you predicted – like my predictions – and settled in for a long evening.
Well to be honest I was exactly the same. I was seeing Harvey Barnes up front which meant anytime the Foxes got the ball they had no out ball. I took to social media to become a tactician and say it needed to change. Rodgers relented however and stuck it out.
The first 15 minutes of the second period offered no change but then you saw the legend that is Jamie Vardy warming up, on he comes and you instantly got off your seat. Everyone started to see the plan and began to delete tweets they hastily wrote. Leicester started to grow and then the plan was signed off with a lovely goal. Just as everyone thought, it was a Brendan Rodgers masterclass.
The plan was very simple, to sit back and deny Arsenal any space, to stay in the game as long as possible, bring Vardy on, control the game and then carve the Gunners apart and complete the ultimate smash and grab.
Mikel Arteta’s side offered very little, apart from a perfectly good goal at the start of the game – debate this all you want. The corner comes in and there’s no one within 2 yards of Kasper Schmeichel, yet it is given offside due to Granit Xhaka’s position. You would have been furious if that was you wouldn’t you?
The game went on in a steady manner, neither side looking inspirational, one had a plan, the other did not.
Arsenal huffed and puffed with the odd chance but there was never anything of note, apart from Hector Bellerin’s effort in the second half which was well saved by Schmeichel.
Throughout the match Leicester gave you this illusion that they were second best and really struggling to compete with the North Londoners, but when Vardy was brought on you realised that this was always going to happen.
Youri Tielemans was taking balls on the half turn and running midfield, Timothy Castagne was starting to advance more and suddenly it was Arsenal that were retreating.
There were still no chances to note, but that wasn’t necessary. All it needed was a beautiful ball over the top from Tielemans and lovely run from the lively Cengiz Under, and a lovely little cross onto Vardy’s head and that was that. Back to the East Midland’s with 3 points.
Leicester City tactical analysis:
In my opinion Barnes upfront didn’t work. The plan was for him to stretch the opposition, which he didn’t do, and then after the half hour mark Rodgers admitted this by moving him to the left and playing James Maddison down the middle to come short and bring others into the game, something Kelechi Iheanacho could have done.
Leicester City have acquired another brilliant Centre Back in Wesley Fofana. The 19 year-old was an absolute rock nicking the ball wherever possible, it was performance that has got to get a conversation started about a permanent starting place when Soyuncu returns from injury.
Papy Mendy is a more than adequate replacement for Wilfred Ndidi. On the ball he is very competent, and he gets about absolutely everywhere. The plan wouldn’t have worked in a Mendy-less Foxes side.
Maddison looks match fit and very sharp. After a long time, he finally started a Premier League match and immediately tried to score from the halfway line. In a game which required discipline the England International showed why he can be counted upon and that his injury troubles are now behind him.
Rodgers has a very astute plan for the ‘Big Six’ sides. Having played to of them in their opening six games, it’s clear to see that Leicester will play five at the back and sit back with a low block and hit teams with their infamous counter attacking threat. Well, with two wins from two you can only say that it’s working.
With Leicester moving into the top 4 with that win, it highlights the fine lines of Premier League football. Fans will be going into work – probably – completely euphoric about the start to their sides season. A defeat would have painted a different picture, languishing in tenth with three defeats from the past three games you can imagine a very different scene at work this Monday morning.
However, the victory gives you some much needed optimism that this side can easily adapt when required to. It makes them a much different proposition in their push for European places this season.