Leicester City remain winless in the Premier League after losing to Arsenal 4-2 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
The Gunners dominated the first half and went into halftime with a 2-0 lead. The game looked done and dusted, but Leicester fought back in the second half, getting on level terms thanks to a James Justin brace. With 30 minutes to go, Arsenal piled on the pressure, searching for the winner.
The Foxes held on, largely thanks to the heroics of Mads Hermansen, but Arsenal’s relentless pressure finally prevailed in stoppage time. A Leandro Trossard cutback from a corner ricocheted off Wilfred Ndidi into Leicester’s net. With the Foxes chasing an equaliser, Kai Harvertz added a fourth for Arsenal, hitting the Foxes on the counter. Despite a spirited Leicester performance in the second half, it was ultimately a one-sided contest. Let’s look at the numbers.
Mads Hermansen’s heroics
Hermansen’s performance was one for the ages. As the game entered its final stages, it looked as if the Denmark international was going to earn the Foxes a point in London. He made 13 saves in total (including nine from inside the box), summing up to 1.74xG. Brought in by Enzo Maresca last summer for his abilities on the ball, Hermansen has proven to be an excellent shot-stopper.
He has adapted brilliantly to the Premier League and is one of the top tier’s better keepers. The 24-year-old has the highest PostShotxG-Goals (3.7) in the league, indicating he has prevented the most goals amongst the goalkeepers. Having cost only £5 million, Hermansen is now worth at least eight times that amount.
Struggles in defence (again)
A game at the Emirates Stadium is one of the toughest in the Premier League. However, the way Arsenal tore apart Leicester’s defence made it seem that it was a match-up between a Premier League team and an EFL League One team. The Gunners recorded 36 shots, created nine big chances and had an xG of 4.62. The 77 touches Arsenal recorded in the penalty box was only eight lower than Leicester’s league aggregate this season. Had it not been for Hermansen, it could have easily been 7-2 or even 8-2.
However, Leicester’s defence had some standout performers. Wout Faes and Caleb Okoli were good, and Wilfred Ndidi’s performance was another impressive one. The Nigerian made eight tackles and eight clearances, won ten duels, and even assisted with a fantastic cross. He has easily been one of Leicester’s best players this season.
