7 Major Talking Points from Leicester City vs Arsenal, Premier League 2015

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Alexis Sanchez was the star of the show, as the Chilean’s magnificent hattrick saw Arsenal run out 5-2 winners at the King Power Stadium against Leicester City. The Foxes were on a 10-match unbeaten run coming into this game, including being the only team this season yet to taste defeat. Jamie Vardy gave them the lead with a brilliant goal on the break but Arsenal responded soon after. Some clinical finishing thereafter saw the Gunners record a thumping victory. Vardy pulled one back for the hosts later on before substitute Olivier Giroud rounded off the scoring.

Here are 7 major talking points from the game:

1) A fantastic exhibition of attacking football

The first half was one which every neutral would have thoroughly enjoyed. Both teams were looking to get on the front foot, and this led to a frenetic pace. In the end though, this led Leicester to be a bit too open at the back, and Arsenal had enough quality to take full advantage. The following stats tell the entire story as to how entertaining this game was:

2) The return of Alexis

Sanchez had not scored in the league coming into this game, but Arsene Wenger said during the week that he was sure the Chilean would regain his form soon. The manager was proved right, as Sanchez scored a fantastic treble. It’s time to re-include him in your fantasy league team!

3) Have Arsenal found the solution for their striker problems?

Theo Walcott was absolutely brilliant today up front, posing a constant threat with his pace and also being excellent with his hold-up play. His goal was the classic example of how useful he can be, as he escaped the two centre-halves to get on the end of a through-ball and expertly shot past the goalkeeper. Olivier Giroud did come on late in the game and get a goal himself, but Walcott very much does look the option Wenger will stick with in the foreseeable future.

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4) It was fun while it lasted, but Leicester need to be careful now

Leicester City have had a fairytale campaign so far, playing some incredible football and staging some improbable comebacks in the past couple of weeks. Their style of play though, will not last the entire season and they need to re-group quickly after this setback. There have been teams in the past (Hull City in 2008, Blackpool in 2011) who have started like a house on fire but then gone on to be involved in a relegation scrap come the end of the season. Claudio Ranieri must make sure that doesn’t happen, and that his players get back their confidence in the very next game.

5) Some uncharacteristically clinical finishing from Arsenal

The Gunners had only scored 5 goals coming into this game, with two of them being own goals. But they doubled that tally in 90 minutes, and there were some devastatingly good finishes. You wouldn’t associate Arsenal with punishing opposition’s mistakes, but that is just what they did in the opener, just seconds after Vardy had struck the crossbar and missed an opportunity to make it 2-0 to the hosts. There was no looking back from there on.

6) Vardy’s incredible run continues

Jamie Vardy has been one of the stories of the season so far. The Englishman was playing non-league football only 4 years ago, but is now one of the top marksmen in the Premier League. He scored another brace, taking his tally for the season to 6. He also hit the woodwork twice and had he been a bit more prolific, the result could have turned out to be completely different.

7) Do Arsenal have a shot at the title?

No team has really looked at their best this season, and with Chelsea floundering in 15th place and Manchester City losing back-to-back games, the Gunners could have an outside chance of posing a threat to the title. Manchester United are top of the league at the moment, but they haven’t looked altogether impressive either. It’s going to be a funny old season, and who is going to come out on top at the end is anybody’s guess.

 

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