Arsenal v Leicester – Tom’s Match Report

Before the game I was lucky to meet Freddie Ljungberg and Robert Pires, two of Arsenal’s legendary ‘Invincibles’.

The Line-Up`

Smith Rowe had been out with Covid last week and was back on the bench, so Martinelli kept his place on the left. Tomiyasu still isn’t fit so Cedric Soares started at right back.

Ramsdale

Soares White Gabriel Tierney

Ødegaard Thomas Xhaka

Saka Lacazette Martinelli

First Half

Arsenal started very brightly, Martinelli looking lively down the left wing and Cedric Soares putting crosses in the box from the right hand side of the pitch. Arsenal had some penalty shouts turned down by the referee and some great chances to score a goal. After Arsenal won a corner from a deflected Tierney cross, Thomas Partey scored a bullet header from a brilliant Martinelli corner. Partey had another chance to score but the ball hit the post.

Leicester built pressure over the rest of the first half but Arsenal stayed on top helped by Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes and Thomas Partey all playing a part. Aaron Ramsdale also made incredible saves in the Arsenal goal.

Second Half

In the second half, Arsenal continued to be the better team having a few more chances to score a goal. Arsenal then had a brilliant chance to score from a swung in Ødegaard freekick with Ben White heading the ball onto the grass and Partey then using his head to direct the ball onto the goal line. During the freekick, the ball hit Söyüncü’s hand in the penalty area. After a five minute VAR check, referee Anthony Taylor was called to the monitor to check if it was a penalty. Eventually, he gave it and Alexandre Lacazette scored. Lacazette scores the penalty to make it 2 – 0. Arsenal controlled the rest of the match well and Arteta used all of the three substitutes bringing on Smith Rowe, Nketiah and Pepe.

Arsenal are now in fourth place in the Premier League table on fifty-one points with three games in hand over fifth placed Manchester United, on fifty points. Hopefully, Arsenal get to play in the Champions League next season!

Player Ratings

My Man of the Match was Thomas Partey because he was all over the pitch and scored a great goal. Odegaard, Saka and Martinelli were all really good as well.

Ramsdale – 7

Soares – 7 White – 7 Gabriel – 7 Tierney – 7

Ødegaard – 8 Thomas – 9 Xhaka – 8

Saka – 8 Lacazette – 7 Martinelli – 8

Right at the end I got to meet Alan Smith. He is a Sky Sports commentator and used to play for Arsenal.

10 thoughts on “Arsenal v Leicester – Tom’s Match Report”

  1. Wow Tom! The way you have written this means I can picture and imagine it all in my mind. You have a real gift for match reporting. I loved seeing the pictures of the special people you met. They were very lucky to have met you too!

  2. I loved reading your match report Tom, as you know I am not usually a big football fan. (That is apart from watching you play, which I have to say is one of my favourite pastimes). But I was able to hear your enthusiasm for watching this game and because of how you have described it, I felt that I could have been watching it with you. Love Reading your match reports you are very talented Tom and love you always and forever.

  3. What an informative match report, I feel like I’ve watched the game! It looks like you have a natural gift at commentating, you could be working alongside Alan Smith at Sky Sports in years to come!

  4. Great match report! Love the descriptions you use to help me picture what was going on. Do you think the Leicester fans agreed with VAR? Looks and sounds like you had a great time. ⚽️

  5. Congratulations Tom for a brilliant match report. You set the scene really well and I can imagine I’m right there watching with you (maybe I actually will one day!). I wonder if you will be a match reporter as your job when you’re older and play football in your spare time. We’ll have to wait and see!

  6. Just brilliant Tom, four in the table and three games in hand…….we surely must do it this year! Xxxx

  7. Tom ! This makes better reading than most of the professional reports these days! Its so thorough and we really feel like we were there!! Excellent!!!

  8. A very clear match report Tom. Very informative and it felt as if I was there watching with you.
    I look forward to reading more match reports but I hope you keep up with the theatre reviews too.

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