Kevin Whitcher
It ‘only’ meant two extra points, but the benefits of Danny Welbeck’s late winner against Leicester yesterday could, psychologically, be highly significant when the story of this season is written. Let us hope that is the case. It has been a long time since matches in May really mattered to Arsenal where the title race was concerned, too long for a club of their stature. Manchester City’s later defeat at home to Spurs meant that the Gunners are now the bookies’ clear favourites for the title. Were there signs yesterday that they might be paying out to those who backed Arsene Wenger’s team?
At times, one could not be sure. Leicester, let no-one deny, played very well, especially when they had their full complement of players on the field. They were sharp, organized, combative, zipping the ball around when they had their spells of possession and definitely cynical when they felt the need. That they pushed it a little too far meant that Martin Atkinson’s tolerance gave out and early in the second half, Danny Simpson picked up a second yellow and gave the home side a man advantage.
By this time, they had a one goal lead to protect. Many years ago, Robert Pires took advantage of a planted defender’s leg and won a penalty against Portsmouth, for which he was roundly condemned. Golden boy Jamie Vardy did it yesterday and the verdict of the ex-pro pundits was that he would have been a fool not to throw himself to the ground, and did the right thing for his team. How times change. These sort of incidents generally find the defender penalized, and so it was with Nacho Monreal. Vardy could have avoided him, but chose not to. He converted the resultant spot kick shortly before the interval.
The first half had seen Arsenal start brightly, but that faded and chances were few and not generally clear cut. Both keepers had decent matches and some excellent saves were seen over the course of the 90 minutes. As Leicester grew into the game, you could see why they were top of the league. There is no debate that Claudio Ranieri has forged a very effective unit, especially with their improvement defensively.
This made Arsenal’s job all the more difficult as they chased the game, although at least the threat of the counter attack was far lessened by the sending off. Danny Drinkwater was fortunate not to join Simpson in the dressing room with a potential leg breaking challenge on Aaron Ramsey. Significantly in the first half, the Welshman seemed reluctant to go for a 50/50 with Casper Schmeichel racing out of his area that might have seen the keeper himself dismissed. He has mitigating circumstances.
Arsenal took off Coquelin (whose return to the starting eleven was very welcome) for Walcott and dropped Oxlade-Chamberlain into Le Coq’s position. With a thicket of bodies to beat, the team varied their tactics and went for the percentage football of high balls into the box for Giroud to either head towards goal or knock down to colleagues. It worked, as the Frenchman set up Theo Walcott for the equalizer with a deft knockdown. The number 14 did not have time to think, which is always when he does best and slotted the ball past Schmeichel.
The stadium was in full voice and the players responded, creating constant danger, although Leicester defended very well to minimize the clear cut chances. The match end stats showed 24 Arsenal attempts on goal of which only 25% were on target. That is an area that needs some attention.
Substitutions very much shaped this game. Walcott’s entrance led to the first Gunners’ goal. Danny Welbeck made a welcome return to action after his last appearance in April 2015 and it was a case of cometh the man, cometh the moment. But only after a rather foolish challenge by the Foxes’ own sub Wasilewski gave the home side a free kick as the ref was thinking of blowing his whistle. Ozil’s delivery was perfect and Welbeck showed how to guide a glancing header past the keeper. Delirium followed. Thierry Henry stated he had not seen the stadium erupt like that since Arshavin’s winner against Barcelona in 2011, although his own comeback goal against Leeds in the FA Cup the following season also comes to mind. Certainly, there haven’t been enough moments of this kind of elation since the stadium move and it is for such moments supporters follow the team. The stuff of which memories are made.
I looked around the field at 0-1 when Leicester seemed to be comfortably controlling Arsenal’s threat. Walcott was on for Coquelin by that stage and I said to my neighbour – they are all ‘nice guys’ out there as far as those in red and white shirts were concerned. Leicester anything but. Huth, Vardy, Drinkwater. Journeymen? Cynics? Call them what you will, but only one side, at that stage, looked like a team that would win the league title.
However, Arsenal kept going, varied their tactics, and came up with the goods. If they are to confirm the bookies’ view as the most likely club to take the crown in May, they are going to have to do that again more than once before the season’s out. Critically though, the experience of doing it against the league leaders, of taking the opportunity when it really mattered, could well prove a very significant moment.
For their momentum, it is unfortunate that they now have an FA Cup tie with what will be very much a shadow team, and then the small matter of Barcelona. However, there might not be a better time to play Manchester United than now, and it’s been too long since Arsene Wenger had a Premier League win at Old Trafford. If Arsenal can go there and take three points, then their odds would shortened further. They have last season’s FA Cup quarter final victory as confirmation they can do what’s required up there.
The bookies have Manchester City best priced at 15/2 to win the title. With Kompany returning to action, those are generous odds for a side only six points behind the leaders who have been round the track before when it comes to title run-ins. It’s still very much a four horse race in the opinion of this observer. But one in which Arsenal have a very good chance. Arsene Wenger got his substitutions right yesterday, and credit to a much-maligned manager where in-game tactics are concerned for doing that. Let us hope there is life in the old dog yet.
I am now on Twitter@KevinWhitcher01.
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