Arsenal 2-0 Leicester: 4 talking points as Gunners go fourth

Arsenal players celebrate Arsenal's French striker Alexandre Lacazette scoring their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 13, 2022. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) /

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LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 13: Thomas Partey of Arsenal celebrates after scoring their side’s first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Leicester City at Emirates Stadium on March 13, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /

3. Another Thomas Partey Masterclass

The Ghanaian midfielder put his team into the lead with just over 11 minutes played and his goal was just reward for weeks of outstanding midfield play.

Truthfully, he could have got himself a hat-trick. Shortly after his goal he struck the upright with a bending shot, and then it was his goalbound header that prompted Soyuncu to give away the second half penalty.

From a defensive perspective he screened the back four majestically on Sunday, winning 100% of his duels, making the most tackles (4), recovering the ball six times and making two interceptions. It was a defensive midfield masterclass with all the additional flair he offers.

His ability to break up Leicester’s attacking forays with a well-timed leg will surely give Brendan Rodgers fits in the review of the game. He killed everything. And then on the other side of his display there were body feints and neat touches galore that got him out of potential trouble.

Partey was, and is, the midfield general. He does the dirty work that allows Granit Xhaka to push further forward and he keeps breaking lines with passes into Martin Odegaard that facilitate him to do what he does best: dazzle. Being this defensively sound grants others the confidence to push forward knowing he is back protecting Benjamin White and Gabriel, meaning Arsenal can dominate advanced territories.

He’s fundamental to everything this team does.

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