Arsenal passed yet another test of their Premier League title credentials, overcoming both VAR adversity and a nuggety Leicester side to record a 1-0 win.
Gabriel Martinelli’s strike immediately after the second half restart was enough for the Gunners to seal all three points at the King Power Stadium.
The win put Arsenal five points clear of Manchester City, even if only for a couple of hours, with Pep Guardiola’s side to play later in the day at Bournemouth.
Mikel Arteta sprung a surprise with his team selection, dropping Eddie Nketiah to the bench in favour of playing Leandro Trossard as a false nine, with Martinelli returning to the left flank.
There was more VAR frustration for Arteta soon after, as both referee Craig Dawson and the Stockley Park officials agreed in ignoring some loud Arsenal appeals for a penalty. Saka appeared to have been bundled over in the box by Leicester’s Harry Souttar but there was no spot-kick.
Arsenal retained a stranglehold in the game and the breakthrough came in the opening seconds of the second half. Martinelli latched onto Trossard’s reverse pass to slide the ball past Ward into the far corner.
There was initial concern for the Brazilian, who got hurt in the process. But he picked himself back up, and almost created a second for Saka, whose effort a few minutes later was rightly chalked offside.
