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Match Analysis: Leicester City 1-1 Arsenal

Sports Mole runs the rule over the 1-1 draw between Leicester City and Arsenal in the Premier League.

Leicester City earned their second point of the season by holding Arsenal to a 1-1 draw at the King Power Stadium this afternoon in the final Premier League game before a two-week international break.

Arsenal, who maintain their unbeaten start to the season, took the lead in the 20th minute when Alexis Sanchez swept home a loose ball in the penalty area.

The Gunners' lead lasted just three minutes, with Leonardo Ulloa heading home Leicester's equaliser for his second goal of the season.

Below, Sports Mole picks apart a gripping affair in the East Midlands.

Match statistics

Leicester
Shots: 9
On target: 3
Possession: 31%
Corners: 5
Fouls: 14

Arsenal
Shots: 24
On target: 6
Possession: 69%
Corners: 10
Fouls: 6

Was the result fair?

Absolutely. The above stats might suggest that it was all Arsenal, but that was far from the case. Leicester more than held their own and in fact had the better chances to win it. Most of Arsenal's efforts at goal were blocked and they rarely tested Kasper Schmeichel.

Leicester's performance

If you'd told Nigel Pearson at the start of the season that his side would have achieved two points from their opening three games against Everton, Chelsea and Arsenal, I think he would have been happy. The Foxes might have been fortunate to get a point against Everton on the opening day, but they deserved at least a draw today.

They were almost faultless at the back and also caused Arsenal plenty of problems down the other end. They were especially good out wide, with wingers Riyad Mahrez and Jeffrey Schlupp often the cause of the hosts' best moments. The latter brilliantly delivered for Ulloa's equaliser and it was an excellent header back across Wojciech Szczesny by the Argentinian, who is adapting to life in the Premier League extremely well.

Arsenal's performance

Still unbeaten this season, but Arsenal's fans won't be happy with today's performance. Yes, the players might have been a little tired after their victory in midweek to qualify for the Champions League group stages, but energy isn't why they failed to win today.

The biggest problem lies up front. With Olivier Giroud out until the New Year, Arsene Wenger put his faith in Yaya Sanogo to lead the line today. The young French forward is yet to score in a competitive game for the North London side and again today looked out of place in the Premier League. The 21-year-old's touch is never quite right and even though he might be credited with the assist for Alexis's goal, his prod forward was in fact a shot that fortunately bobbled to the Chilean. With just over a day of the transfer window left, Arsenal fans will be desperate for Wenger to bring a marquee frontman to the club.

Elsewhere, it was an OK display from the visitors. Defensively they afforded Leicester a few too many openings and Laurent Koscielny perhaps shouldn't have been on the pitch for the equaliser after suffering a head injury that saw him substituted soon after. The French international was marking Ulloa and let him drift away to head home. After goals in the Gunners' first two league games, Aaron Ramsey failed to find the net today, but he was still the most active and available in midfield.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Leonardo Ulloa: Not only did he powerfully head home the Leicester goal, but Ulloa was a nuisance all afternoon. He came off with 13 minutes to go and he had certainly put a shift in, also helping at the back with some clearances from Arsenal set pieces.

He could have won the game for the Foxes, but clipped a great chance into the near side-netting. Perhaps he was trying to be too cute, but he did so well to create the opening that it's hard to criticise him. A mention too for Leicester defender Wes Morgan, who made a number of key blocks and interceptions.

Biggest gaffe

There were very few bad mistakes in the game, so we're picking on Mathieu Flamini for jumping in on Mahrez, failing to make the tackle and allowing Leicester to break up the other end and almost score a winner.

Referee performance

Anthony Taylor had a fuss-free game to deal with this afternoon. Only right at the end did he have to break up a little skirmish between Szczesny and Liam Moore, but he dealt with the situation well. There were also a couple of half-hearted penalty appeals and he rightly shook his head at both.

What next?

Leicester: As mentioned above, there is now a two-week break for internationals and on their return to Premier League action Leicester travel to Stoke City.

Arsenal: The Gunners, meanwhile, host reigning champions Manchester City in the first game of the weekend at lunchtime on Saturday, September 13.

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Arsenal's German midfielder Mesut Ozil (R) runs with the ball chased by Leicester City's Algerian midfielder Riyad Mahrez (L) during the English Premier League football match on August 31, 2014
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