Leicester City 0-1 Arsenal: Gabriel Martinelli goal keeps Gunners' title push on track

Gabriel Martinelli's goal a minute into the second half was enough to give Premier League leaders Arsenal victory at Leicester City.

The Gunners appeared to have taken the lead midway through the first half when recent signing Leandro Trossard curled a fantastic effort inside the top corner, but VAR showed Ben White was holding Danny Ward's arm when he weakly punched away the initial corner.

Arsenal dominated possession throughout the first half but did not create a great deal and Mikel Arteta's chastening words saw them come out in the second half with a purpose and shortly after the restart Trossard played a ball through for Martinelli who slid a ball just inside Ward's left-hand post.

The Gunners were a whisker away from going further in front just before the hour mark when Martinelli squared for Bukayo Saka to tap home, but the Brazilian was just offside before he created the goal.

The win sees Arsenal stay in pole position ahead of Manchester City at the top of the table, while Leicester remain in 14th spot.

The return of Gabriel Jesus in April will play a big part in nullifying this weakness, but despite the character they have shown in consecutive away wins they do not appear to be the hardest team to defend against at present. Eddie Nketiah started on the bench after not scoring in his last five league games and may be more dangerous as an impact substitution, but only in the opening minutes of the second half with Leicester's heads still seemingly in the dressing room did the home side seem unduly challenged. With clubs having half a season to study and lessen the influence of Saka and Martin Odegaard, even against teams they should beat it is foreseeable the Gunners will drop crucial points they should gain. Leicester posed next to no threat without a single shot on target so, especially without James Maddison, are not a good barometer on which to judge one's own performance.

What a perfect signing he has been for the Gunners. Much more than a full-back in Mikel Arteta's system he is an auxiliary midfielder and his ability to beat a player and find team-mates was evident through much of the visitors' best play. It is apt a Ukrainian wins this on a day when both managers were wearing Ukraine badges, but this was thoroughly deserved. A fine stop from Danny Ward stopped him rounding off the performance with a goal.

Leicester: Ward 7; Castagne 6, Souttar 6, Faes 6, Kristiansen 6; Dewsbury-Hall 7, Ndidi 6; Tete 6, Praet 6, Barnes 7; Iheanacho 6.

Subs: Vardy 6, Tielemans 6, Daka 6, Soumare 6, Pereira 6.

Arsenal: Ramsdale 6; White 6, Saliba 6, Gabriel 6, Zinchenko 8*; Jorginho 6, Xhaka 6; Odegaard 7; Saka 7, Trossard 7, Martinelli 7.

Subs: Nketiah 6, Partey 6, Tomiyasu 6.

26' GOAL FOR ARSENAL! Saka's corner is punched up into the air by Ward and Xhaka then feeds Trossard on the edge of the area who curls the ball inside the top corner.

28' GOAL DISALLOWED! Ben White was holding Ward's right arm as the corner came in which was why he could only throw a flailing left arm at the ball.

46' GOAL FOR ARSENAL! Trossard slips a ball through to Martinelli in the inside-left channel and he slides an effort past Ward and inside the far post.

58' ZINCHENKO TURNS ON HIS LEFT FOOT ON EDGE OF AREA! He hits a curling effort inside the far post but Ward saves well diving to his right.