Pain in the Arsenal
Fansided

Arsenal Vs Leicester City: 5 things we learned – Positives despite disappointment

By Andrew Dowdeswell

Arsenal, Bukayo Saka, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Arsenal, Bukayo Saka, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 07: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal jumps for a header during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Leicester City at Emirates Stadium on July 07, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 07: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal jumps for a header during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Leicester City at Emirates Stadium on July 07, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /

3. Clinical touch required

Arsenal were excellent in the first half. They controlled the game with a suffocating high press, moved the ball quickly in possession, and created numerous chances when bursting into the final third.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

The front three were especially dangerous. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made darting runs in behind the Leicester defence. Bukayo Saka was direct when he received the ball to feet and delivered accurate passes, through-balls and crosses. Alexandre Lacazette’s movement was supreme and his hold-up play was critical to the combination play between the trio. But crucially, they scored just the one goal, which Mikel Arteta rightly rued in his post-match interview:

"“I’m extremely proud of our team and the way we played against this type of opposition with how dominant we were in the first half. But clearly, we should’ve gone three or four-nil up and killed the game. That’s what you have to do with this type of opposition.”"

Alexandre Lacazette missed a simple header. Kasper Schmeichel procured a terrific save to deny Lacazette, too. Bukayo Saka also had a strong opportunity that he struck a little unconvincingly on his right side. Against excellent teams, you have to be clinical. Arsenal weren’t and they were punished.