Winners
Gabriel Martinelli
The Brazilian managed to get his second goal in two games and win the match for the Gunners. If his open goal at Aston Villa left anyone with doubt about his ability to finish past anyone between the sticks today certainly stamped that out.
It looked for a moment, after he scored, that he would not be continuing, grabbing his knee after Wilfred Ndidi collided with the forward. However, like against Man City in 2020 after a collision with Zack Steffen, it appears it was more shock than anything and he completed the fixture unscathed.
Jorginho
For three games in a row, Jorginho has been up there with Arsenal’s top performers. Most passes completed (68) possession won the most times (10) and 3 tackles made, the most on the team.
READ MORE: Leicester City vs Arsenal recap: Gabriel Martinelli goal sends Gunners five clear amid VAR chaos
Whilst Thomas Partey was fit enough to make the bench Mikel Arteta need not be concerned with his short absence and rush him into the side with the Italian ready to continue his fine form. Arsenal have needed competitive depth and Jorginho has shown that he’s more than just “cover” and potentially someone who will ask questions of the nailed-on starter.
Plenty of fuel in the tank
With a crucial game in mid-week, Arsenal have the chance to ensure they have a buffer at the top with a win over Everton. The game against Leicester provided little in terms of a fitness test and the Gunners were able to comfortably coast through the majority of the game.
Leandro Trossard, Martin Odegaard and Oleksandr Zinchenko were given rests with substitutions but it’s unlikely Arteta will make wholesale changes. Partey who was introduced could come in, with Eddie Nketiah potentially reclaiming his starting berth up top.
Losers
Youri Tielemans
In the summer there were desperate cries to see Arsenal make a move for Youri Tielemans to bolster the midfield. Fast forward to 2023 and the Belgian cannot get in the Leicester City starting line-up with Brendan Rodgers opting instead for Wilfred Ndidi and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in the middle.
football.london understood Edu was prepared to wait until the summer to sign him on a free. However, his struggles to get into Rodgers’ side and the perceived dip in form might just make the Gunners look elsewhere, especially with the impressive response since the arrival of Jorginho.
Emile Smith Rowe
Back in the team but not on the field. Emile Smith Rowe has been on the bench for the past two matches but seems no closer to getting his first moment back on the field after his sole minute in the north London derby in April.
It felt had Arsenal managed to get a goal or two more then Arteta might have felt comfortable throwing Smith Rowe on. However, much like the majority of this season, the Gunners have not been winning with three, four or even five-goal gaps like their title rivals can muster.
The striker conundrum
It still feels as though no matter who starts in the striker position Mikel Arteta is simply yearning for the return of Gabriel Jesus, as we all are. However, it would be beneficial for one of Eddie Nketiah or now Leandro Trossard to ease that.
That said, were it not for a controversial VAR decision to rule out the Belgian’s strike, arguably this wouldn’t even be a point of discussion. That said, with Everton in a few days, Arteta has a choice where there perhaps wasn’t one before, at least prior to Trossard’s arrival.
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