Leicester v Arsenal 24/08/96 3.00Leicester (0) 0 Arsenal (1) 2 FT Bergkamp 27 (pen) Wright 90 Arsenal survived a storming second-half rally by Leicester to chalk up their first away success of the season at Filbert Street. A first-half penalty by Dennis Bergkamp and a last-gasp goal from substitute Ian Wright proved enough to settle the issue and doom Leicester to defeat. The Foxes came down to earth after collecting four points from their opening two games and for long spells Arsenal were in control without ever firing on all cylinders. Bergkamp was their inspiration in the opening 45 minutes, earning the penalty for himself and prising open a shaky-looking Leicester defence. But he faded in the second period and his diminishing influence coincided with a stirring display in the final half-hour from Martin O'Neill's side. They created enough chances to have earned a share of the spoils with England Under-21 striker Emile Heskey posing problems. After a bright Leicester opening in which Heskey their two-goal hero against Southampton flashed a shot wide, Arsenal took control. They found plenty of space to exploit down the right flank and Leicester skipper Steve Walsh had an unhappy time in defence. Arsenal striker John Hartson turned past Walsh to fire in a low drive which Kasey Keller was able to save comfortably. But a second blunder by Walsh proved costly and handed The Gunners their 26th-minute breakthrough on a plate. He lost possession just inside the penalty area to Bergkamp and then pulled back the Dutchman as he broke clear. Bergkamp himself took the penalty and sent Keller the wrong way for his second goal of the campaign. A fine ball into the box from Bergkamp then picked out raiding full-back Lee Dixon but he could only turn the ball over the bar. Leicester's ineffectiveness was such that England keeper David Seaman did not have to make a save in the opening 45 minutes. The second half started in the same vein with Arsenal in control but then Leicester rocked them on their heels. Walsh almost atoned for his error by forcing a fine save out of Seaman with a powerful header and then the livewire Heskey had a rocket shot from 20 yards finger-tipped behind. Spencer Prior and Muzzy Izzet also should have done better with headers when well placed. Wright, who came on in the 70th minute, nearly killed off the game with a low shot which rolled inches wide with Keller scrambling across his line. But he made no mistake in the last minute. Keller's clearance only hit Nigel Winterburn and rebounded to Ian Wright who knocked it into an empty net. 
Leicester: (5-3-2) Keller, Grayson, Whitlow (Parker, 75), Watts, Walsh, Prior, Izzet, Lennon, Taylor, Claridge, Heskey. Subs not used: Poole, Rolling, Robins, Lawrence. Booked: Lennon, Prior. Arsenal: (5-3-2) Seaman, Dixon, Winterburn, Bould, Merson, Bergkamp (Hillier, 82), Linighan, Keown, Parlour, Hartson (Wright, 69), Morrow. Subs not used: Helder, Rose, Lukic. Booked: Linighan, Hartson, Bergkamp. Attendance: 20,429. Referee: G P Barber (Warwick). |
