3 positives & negatives from Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Leicester

February 25, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/02/26/3-positives-and-negatives-from-arsenals-1-0-win-over-leicester/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div> <p>Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s second-half attempt from 40 yards would be Leicester’s only attempt toward Aaron Ramsdale’s goal.</p> <p>It was a testament to<a title="Leicester 0-1 Arsenal: Player ratings as Martinelli grabs only goal" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/02/26/3-positives-and-negatives-from-arsenals-1-0-win-over-leicester/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/02/25/leicester-0-1-arsenal-player-ratings/" rel=""> how good both William Saliba and Gabriel were today</a>. They both had monstrous performances, but the Brazilian stood out, not only in defence but also with his key pass to set up the attack resulting in Arsenal’s goal.</p> <h2>Negative #1: Refereeing</h2> <div id="attachment_132575" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-132575 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/02/26/3-positives-and-negatives-from-arsenals-1-0-win-over-leicester/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1066,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1247468471.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1066" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1247468471.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1247468471-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">VAR ruled out Leandro Trossard’s first-half strike. (Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> <p>I hate talking about refereeing performances, but it has to be spoken about on this occasion.</p> <p>Leandro Trossard’s beautiful goal was disallowed because of Ben White’s ‘foul’ on Danny Ward in the box. The issue is consistency. If players can’t touch goalkeepers at all, then what happened on Douglas Luiz’s olympico earlier this season where Ramsdale was being held? Ward could have easily gotten out of that situation, but he got the call, and a goal was chalked off. It’s super frustrating.</p> <p>Not too long after that, Bukayo Saka was dragged down in the box by Harry Souttar but VAR refused to intervene after Craig Pawson waved away Gooner’s claims. It is again frustrating to see a clear foul not given and no explanation as to why. The refereeing needs to be better, it didn’t cost Arsenal today, but it has before.</p> <p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/02/26/3-positives-and-negatives-from-arsenals-1-0-win-over-leicester/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #2 positive &amp; negative </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h2>Positive #2: Leandro Trossard</h2> <div id="attachment_132576" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-132576 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/02/26/3-positives-and-negatives-from-arsenals-1-0-win-over-leicester/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2316,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1469499430.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2316" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1469499430.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1469499430-768x556.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Trossard had a positive influence from a central position. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)</p> </div> <p>Eddie Nketiah got a much-needed rest. Trossard played as a false nine to what could only be considered a successful performance. His wonder goal didn’t count, but his nutmeg assist for Martinelli’s goal was incredible. He linked play very well and was very fluid in his positioning, which is something that Arsenal have missed. His physicality leaves something to be desired in the role, but that’s to be expected from him.</p> <p>The Belgian operated a lot in that left half-space which led to a really solid match from Martinelli as he was able to get way more dynamic support than he has been getting recently. It was a successful experiment, and seeing how it’s used going forward will be interesting.</p> <h2>Negative #2: Should have been more</h2> <p>1-0 isn’t entirely representative of how this match played out. If Arsenal created a few more chances for shots in the final third, it could have been a far more flattering scoreline for the team that was in the driver’s seat.</p> <p>Some help from the refs could have been good, too, but the most significant thing is turning that control into chances.</p> <p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/02/26/3-positives-and-negatives-from-arsenals-1-0-win-over-leicester/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #3 positive &amp; negative </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h2>Positive #3: Control</h2> <div id="attachment_132568" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-132568" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/02/26/3-positives-and-negatives-from-arsenals-1-0-win-over-leicester/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1098,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1469499541.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1098" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1469499541.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1469499541-768x527.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">It was hardly a classic at the King Power, but Arsenal did enough. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)</p> </div> <p>It was all Arsenal here, and from the 0.01 xG, Leicester didn’t have a chance. It can be tough to control and dominate away matches, but Arsenal did just that; having most of the ball and the chances in the match.</p> <p>It was all very easy for the Gunners with Jorginho impressing in the middle of the park. The Italian played a key role in ensuring the visitors dominated proceedings on Saturday afternoon.</p> <h2>Negative #3: Granit Xhaka dynamics</h2> <p>It hasn’t been a great few games for Xhaka, with his average positioning painting a clear picture.</p> <div class="embed "> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Leicester vs Arsenal Pass Networks <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/02/26/3-positives-and-negatives-from-arsenals-1-0-win-over-leicester/"https://t.co/scXbdGIW6L">pic.twitter.com/scXbdGIW6L

<p>— Scott Willis (@scottjwillis) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/02/26/3-positives-and-negatives-from-arsenals-1-0-win-over-leicester/"https://twitter.com/scottjwillis/status/1629527521112002561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>February 25, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/02/26/3-positives-and-negatives-from-arsenals-1-0-win-over-leicester/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div> <p>With Trossard taking up Xhaka’s usual left half-space, he dropped deeper, resulting in him and Zinchenko taking up the same space on the pitch. This would’ve been another good game to see what <a title="Fábio Vieira is ready for greater Arsenal involvement" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/02/26/3-positives-and-negatives-from-arsenals-1-0-win-over-leicester/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/02/25/fabio-vieira-is-ready-for-greater-arsenal-involvement/" rel="">Fabio Vieira could do against a deep-lying defence</a>.</p> <div class="embed "> <blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="lmuDQRSpss"><p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/02/26/3-positives-and-negatives-from-arsenals-1-0-win-over-leicester/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/02/26/leicester-city-0-1-arsenal-3-talking-points-gunners-grind-win/">Leicester 0-1 Arsenal: 3 talking points as Gunners grind out win</a></p></blockquote> <p><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/02/26/3-positives-and-negatives-from-arsenals-1-0-win-over-leicester/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/02/26/leicester-city-0-1-arsenal-3-talking-points-gunners-grind-win/embed/#?secret=lmuDQRSpss" data-secret="lmuDQRSpss" width="500" height="282" title="“Leicester 0-1 Arsenal: 3 talking points as Gunners grind out win” — Pain in the Arsenal" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p></div> <p>He would have had more freedom to find space, and his creativity could have been key to breaking down Leicester’s block. It’ll be interesting to see if those dynamics change midweek against Everton.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">