Leicester City vs Arsenal. Premier League.
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Watch highlights as Jamie Vardy nets twice for fantastic Foxes; Gunners suffer third successive defeat after Maitland-Niles sent off
Sunday 28 April 2019 19:22, UK
Leicester rampaged past 10-man Arsenal on Super Sunday, winning 3-0 and condemning the Gunners to their third straight league defeat.
Arsenal were indebted to goalkeeper Bernd Leno as Leicester had already enjoyed 72 per cent possession when Ainsley Maitland-Niles was dismissed for a second yellow card (36) following his late tackle on James Maddison.
Youri Tielemans made the extra man count by heading the Foxes in front (59) before Jamie Vardy helped himself to a late double (86 & 90+5).
Arsenal remain fifth ahead of Manchester United and Chelsea's clash later on Super Sunday.
Meanwhile, Leicester are up to eighth place, three points behind Wolves in seventh.
Leno was called into action early, brilliantly flicking clear Wilfried Ndidi's header that was heading towards the top corner - and that was a sign of things to come.
However, things could have been different if Alex Iwobi hadn't fired straight at Kasper Schmeichel's legs with just the goalkeeper to beat on 35 minutes.
A minute later, Maitland-Niles was dismissed for the first time in his career.
Already on a booking for his body check on Ben Chilwell, the wing-back stumbled and then tried to recover by flying into a late challenge on Maddison. A red card followed.
Arsenal resisted the Foxes' surge until 59 minutes when Maddison produced a ball of great quality which Tielemans powered into the net.
Leno was called into action again to deny both Ricardo Pereira and Harvey Barnes in quick succession.
Somehow Arsenal were still in the game but Vardy quashed any hopes of a recovery with four minutes left. The striker gobbled up a Schmeichel goal kick and headed in from six yards after his lob over Leno hit the bar.
Vardy - who was close to signing for Arsenal under Arsene Wenger - then took his career tally against the Gunners to eight goals in nine appearances by tapping home Pereira's cross in injury time.
Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness said: "No complaints on the first booking. He obstructs, he raises his left arm and catches him.
"On the second booking, he's very unlucky. There is not a lot of contact. It's very harsh. Maddison goes down...but holding what? Where's the contact?"
This was a close run thing between the Leicester midfielder and Leno, who made nine saves, including three borderline world-class ones, and commanded his box with great authority.
The Belgian has been a very shrewd acquisition following his loan move from Monaco in January. Tielemans himself has not ruled out extending his stay at Leicester beyond the end of the season and on this showing the club should be putting this potential deal at the top of their summer transfer to-do list.
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers: "When it was 11 v 11 I thought we were the better team. There were areas we could be better in but the energy, pressing, quailty and three outstanding goals.
"I'm very pleased we got our reward for our hard work."
Arsenal face Valencia in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday while Leicester City head to the Etihad Stadium for a tasty Monday Night Football against Manchester City.
