Premier League, King Power Stadium –Leicester City 2 (Vardy 13, 88) Arsenal 5 (Walcott 18, Sanchez 33, 58, 81, Giroud90’+3)
Alexis Sanchez broke his duck for the season with a hat-trick as Arsenal thrashed Leicester City 5-2 in a thriller at the King Power Stadium.
In a breathtaking 45 minutes which was end to end, Vardy gave the Foxes the lead with a brilliant curling effort pastPetr Cech from a tight angle.
The Gunners responded well and equalised five minutes later when Theo Walcott converted Santi Cazorla’s threaded ball. And they took the lead when Walcott’s effort was blocked and the ball fell to Sanchez, who tapped the ball in from six yards out.
The Chilean grabbed his second after beating Kasper Schmeichel to the ball to head past the keeper and completed his hat-trick with a stunning long-range drive.
Vardy reduced the home side's deficit with a fine curling effort but Arsene Wenger's side had the final say with substitute Oliver Giroud scoring in stoppage time to seal a win which moves the Gunners into fourth place in the table.
Arsenal’s English striker Theo Walcott (R) celebrates with Arsenal's Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez - AFP
KEY MOMENTS
10’ – WOODWORK! Schlupp's deflected effort from outside the post is beaten away by Cech. The ball comes out to Vardy who strikes the post with another deflected shot offMertesacker from 20 yards.
13’ - GOAL! Vardy with acres of space down the left and he drives it into the corner, great finish from a tight angle.
18’ – WOODWORK! Vardy heads the ball onto the crossbar after a brilliant ball to the far post.
18’ - GOAL! Leicester 1-1 Arsenal. Straight at the other end, Cazorla's through ball finds Walcott who is through on goal and strokes the ball into the bottom corner to make it 1-1.
33’ - GOAL! Leicester 1-2 Arsenal. Sanchez has broken his duck this season with a tap in from six yards after Walcott's effort is blocked by De Laet.
58’ - GOAL! Leicester 1-3 Arsenal. Ozil's brilliant ball finds Sanchez who heads the ball past on onrushing Schmeichel.
81’ - GOAL! Leicester 1-4 Arsenal. Sanchez flicks the ball past Morgan and lashes the ball past Schmeichel from 25 yards - what a strike.
84’ – CECH SAVE! Cech with another top class stop to parry Mahrez's low drive from a tight angle.
88’ – GOAL! Leicester 2-4 Arsenal. Vardy curls the ball into the bottom corner, a class finish.
90'+3- GOAL! Leicester 2-5 Arsenal. Giroud with a first-time strike from close range to make it 5-2.
Arsenal's Theo Walcott celebates scoring their first goal with Mesut Ozil - Reuters
KEY STATS
Theo Walcott scored his first league away goal since he found the net twice in a 3-1 win at West Ham United on Boxing Day 2013.
Since his Premier League debut in August 2012, Santi Cazorla has provided more assists than any other player (32).
Jamie Vardy scored his fifth goal in his seventh Premier League appearance this season. He scored five goals in 34 league matches in the 2014/15 campaign.
Infostrada/OptaJoe
TALKING POINT
Were Claudio Ranieri’s side too cavalier? Leicester can take credit for a thrilling game. They went at Arsenal from the outset and took a deserved lead. The home side kept upping the ante but it came at a cost as the Gunners regularly got behind their defence. This approach has led to Leicester having their unbeaten run and having thrillers against Aston Villa and Stoke City in recent weeks so they are unlikely to change. But a bit of caution in future when they go ahead in a game may be the lesson from this match.
Jamie Vardy scores the first goal for Leicester City - Reuters
MAN OF THE MATCH
Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal): The Chilean looks to have his mojo back. Arsene Wenger admitted in the build-up he brought the forward back into the game too early following the Copa America. But he looked back to his best with his work rate. He was in the right place at the right time for his first goal, executed a well-taken header for the second and completed his hat-trick with a cracking long-range effort.
PLAYER RATINGS
Arsenal: Cech 6, Bellerin 5, Koscielny 6, Mertesacker 5,Monreal 5, Flamini 4, Cazorla 7, Ramsey 5, Ozil 6, Sanchez 10, Walcott 8. Subs: Arteta 5, Oxlade-Chamberlain 4, Giroud 4.
Leicester City: Schmeichel 6, De Laet 7, Huth 6, Morgan 6, Schlupp 6, Mahrez 5, Kante 5, Drinkwater 6, Albrighton 6,Okazaki 5, Vardy 7. Subs: Ulloa 5, Kramaric 4, King 5.
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