Brendan Rodgers saluted “world-class” Jamie Vardy after he sealed Leicester’s late 1-0 win as spluttering Arsenal crashed to a third defeat in their last four Premier League games on Sunday.
Vardy was only fit enough for the bench after a calf injury, but Foxes manager Rodgers sent the striker on with 30 minutes left. Vardy responded with his sixth goal of the season.
The 33-year-old has made a habit of tormenting Arsenal and has now scored 11 goals in 12 Premier League games against them.
“Our plan was always to bring Jamie Vardy into the game and he can stretch it,” said Rodgers.
“He makes the big contributions in the big games,” he added after Leicester’s first win at Arsenal since 1973.
“That shows you the level he is at and he is a world-class player. I’m lucky to have him.”
Leicester climbed to fourth after ending a run of two successive league defeats.
“We deserved it, we played against a really good side and have players who can run in behind,” Rodgers said.
“To keep a clean sheet and play with the quality and calmness was good.”
Arsenal are languishing in 10th after a second consecutive league loss following their 1-0 defeat at Manchester City last weekend.
But it might have been a different story when, early in a then goalless game, Arsenal’s Alexandre Lacazette headed in from a corner only for his effort to be disallowed for offside against Granit Xhaka.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta was also disappointed by his team’s lack of cutting edge.
“I’m really disappointed, we had it in our hands in the first half and I don’t know how the hell Lacazette’s goal was disallowed,” Arteta said.
“It is difficult to create spaces with 10 men behind the ball, but we should have finished the game better.”
The principle problem is a sudden dip in form for captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Gabon forward is without a goal in his last five league games – his worst drought since 2014, although he did net against Rapid Vienna in the Europa League on Thursday.
Aubameyang has scored just once in the league this season, hardly the kind of form Arteta would have hoped for after handing the striker a lucrative new contract in September.
Arsenal’s ability to challenge for a top four place rests on Aubameyang leading the charge. So far this term he has been a flop.
- Luiz blow -
Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno was at fault for the goal his side conceded in Vienna and the German nearly gifted Leicester the lead inside the first two minutes.
Leno came dashing way off his line but his attempted clearance went straight to James Maddison. The midfielder’s 40-yard effort floated just wide.
Alexandre Lacazette headed in from an Arsenal corner moments later, but the goal was disallowed for offside against Granit Xhaka.
Arsenal were on top and Bukayo Saka’s strike forced a good save from Kasper Schmeichel before Aubameyang headed over from Kieran Tierney’s cross.
Lacazette should have done better with a good chance from another Tierney cross before Saka shot into the side-netting.
Arsenal suffered a blow when David Luiz limped off early in the second half.
Arteta sent on Nicolas Pepe midway through the half in a bid to perk Arsenal up.
Bellerin brought a good save from Schmeichel when he met Aubameyang’s cross with a powerful volley.
But Arsenal were hit with a sucker punch in the 80th minute.
Youri Tielemans’ ball over the top for Cengiz Under was perfectly weighted and the Turk squared across goal for Vardy to head into the empty net.
‘Joke’ red card
Everton coach Carlo Ancelotti slammed referee Kevin Friend’s “joke” decision to send off Lucas Digne as the Premier League leaders’ unbeaten start to the season ended in a 2-0 defeat against Southampton on Sunday before Leicester climbed to fourth with a 1-0 victory over a faltering Arsenal.
Everton had gone eight games without defeat in all competitions this term, but they paid the price for a lethargic display at St Mary’s.
Ancelotti’s side fell behind to James Ward-Prowse’s first-half goal and Che Adams doubled the lead before the interval.
Toffees left-back Digne was sent off for a dangerous challenge on Kyle Walker-Peters in the second half despite his claims he tripped when he stood on the Southampton defender’s heel.
“The red card was a joke, it was not intentional, for sure it was not violent. Maybe it was a yellow,” Ancelotti said.
“It’s not right, it’s not fair. We will appeal, for sure.”
Without the suspended Richarlison and injured Seamus Coleman after last weekend’s stormy Merseyside derby draw with Liverpool, Everton lacked the drive and quality that had been the hallmark of their strong start to the campaign.
They remain above the champions and their local rivals on goal difference but Ancelotti admitted: “We didn’t play well, Southampton were better than us and they deserved to win...I told the players winter is coming and we will have to react.”
Southampton have only lost twice in 13 league matches and climbed within three points of first place.
Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was in action for the first time since his ugly tackle on Virgil van Dijk left the Liverpool defender with a serious knee injury.
Pickford had been subjected to vicious abuse on social media, but Ancelotti refused to take the error-prone keeper out of the spotlight and, in fairness, the England international had no chance when Ward-Prowse put Southampton ahead in the 27th minute by firing into the far corner for his first goal of the season.
Adams doubled Southampton’s lead eight minutes later when, after a rampaging run and fine cross by strike partner Danny Ings, his deflected shot beat Pickford.
Everton’s last hope vanished in the 72nd minute when Digne was dismissed for his awkward foul on Walker-Peters.
