Danny Welbeck headed the Gunners' winning goal at the Emirates Stadium after Premier League leaders Leicester City had been reduced to 10 men

Published: 14 February, 2016
by TOM FOOT at the Emirates Stadium

Premier League
ARSENAL 2, LEICESTER CITY 1

THERE was total bedlam inside the Emirates this afternoon after substitute Danny Welbeck returned from a 10-month injury layoff to break Leicester City's hearts with the last touch of the game.

The Roy of the Rovers finish – a glanced header from a Mesut Ozil free-kick on 94 minutes – was just reward for a spirited 20-minute onslaught against the league leaders' 10 men.

The frustration level inside the stadium had reached such a peak – Arsenal had 14 shots in the last 15 minutes – that the release of tension was too much for many fans. Many collapsed into each other, pale-faced, blasting out joy-filled expletives and waving their fists manically at the sky. 

"It was happiness," said Wenger after the match. "We came back with a relentless energy."

Talking about the memorable finish, Wenger said: "I did smell a goal. When we got the free-kick on that side, with Mesut taking it – he is top quality – I thought it would happen." 

He added: "Everybody is very happy for him (Welbeck) because he has been out for 10 months. He is a great guy, a great mentality, he worked extremely hard, that is why he's fit for today."

Welbeck's strike may prove a decisive moment in one of the most unpredictable seasons in recent memory, and Wenger spelled out its importance when he said: "At half-time, we were eight points behind Leicester. We knew a goal was not good enough."

Jamie Vardy had put the Foxes ahead from the penalty spot just before half-time after Nacho Monreal was judged to have upended him as he raced in on goal from the far corner of the box. It was a debatable decision and the crowd was incensed that the ref had not blown up for a foul on Ozil at the other end, which allowed Leicester to break away.

After Vardy smashed in his penalty, Leicester's fans sang: "We are staying up, say we are staying up." 

Jokes aside, their team play free from fear of losing and without pressure from their fans, who will salute them even if they don't win the league. 

Ozil and Alexis Sanchez – so often Arsenal's saviours – had below-par performances, but once again Petr Cech proved to be Arsenal's Mr Reliable. He made two exceptional saves in the first half, smothering a strong Vardy header to the bottom corner from point-blank range. 

The match turned in Arsenal's favour after Danny Simpson was sent off for two yellows in quick succession. It was a soft second booking from Martin Atkinson who perhaps was reacting to the wrath of the home fans after several inconsistent decisions against Arsenal.

Theo Walcott – brought on in the second half for Francis Coquelin in an attacking play by Wenger – took his goal beautifully on 70 minutes, after a well-timed nod down from Giroud. 

Arsenal are two points behind leaders Leicester with 12 games to go.

ARSENAL: Cech, Bellerín, Mertesacker, Koscielny (Chambers, 45), Monreal, Coquelin (Walcott, 61), Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain (Welbeck, 83), Özil, Sánchez, Giroud.
Attendance: 60,070.