By Rob Kelly
WHAT HAPPENED
Jamie Vardy scored his 11th goal in 11 Premier League matches against us to condemn us to a disappointing defeat against Leicester City on Sunday evening.
In a match of few chances, we thought we had an early goal only to see it disallowed, while Hector Bellerin came close with a second-half volley that was palmed away.
But it was the visitors who sealed the points when a lightning break saw fellow substitutes Cengiz Under and Vardy combine for what proved to be the winner.
We started the match on the front foot – and had the ball in the back of the net with just three minutes on the clock through Alex Lacazette’s glancing header, but it was quickly ruled out for Granit Xhaka being adjudged to have impeded Kaspar Schmeichel.
It looked a harsh call, but we continued to come at the visitors and had them pinned back in their own half for much of the first half.
But for all our dominance, we struggled to fashion any clear-cut chances until midway through the half when Kieran Tierney sent an inviting ball in from the left that Lacazette could not make contact with.
It summed up a frustrating opening 45 minutes as we looked well in control, but without any of the rewards we might otherwise have had.
After the restart, we continued to apply the pressure, although the Foxes showed more attacking intent – and were soon bolstered by the arrival of Vardy off the bench.
Chances remained at a premium, but we created our best of the match when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang dug out a deep cross from the left byeline, and Bellerin met it on the volley only for Schmeichel to palm it away.
But it was Vardy who was to score the only goal of the night, heading home after a swift counter to seal a disappointing night for Mikel Arteta’s men.
HOW IT HAPPENED
See how the match unfolded with our play-by-play commentary
WHAT IT MEANS
WHAT'S NEXT
We’re back at Emirates Stadium on Thursday when we take on Dundalk in matchday two of the Europa League group stage.
The Irish side – who we have never faced before – took the lead in their opening game, against Molde, but eventually succumbed to a 2-1 defeat.
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