Mikel Arteta criticized the decision to disallow Alexander Lacazette header for offside early in the first half as Jamie Vardy came from the bench to score the winning goal for Leicester.
Arsenal was disappointing in the 0-1 defeat by Leicester City. Despite dominating the game and managing 12 shots on goal, the Gunners didn’t look serious while testing Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
Things didn’t go well for Arsenal as Arteta criticized the decision to disallow Lacazette’s header for offside in the first half.
“The game the way it went, I felt we had total control in the first half and restricted them to nothing”. Said Arteta.
“We were winning every ball, created a few chances, and scored a goal. I’m really disappointed. We had it in our hands in the first half and I don’t know how the hell the goal was disallowed”.
“They defended deeper in the second half, waiting for the mistake and in one moment they did it. Against this block, against well-organized teams, when you open them up you have to put the ball in the back of the net. They were similar to Manchester City. They scored with two set-pieces and credit to them for what they have done. But our players responded and I feel sorry for them”.
“They caught us with space at the back and at that moment, we lost the game”.
The predictable Arsenal firing blanks
Arteta side thought they had scored in the opening minutes when Lacazette headed in from a corner. However, Granit Xhaka and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were both offside.
From this point, Arsenal had control of the game for the most part. Nonetheless, despite Kieran Tierney raiding with intent down the left, they struggled to bust open the organized Leicester City.
In the first half, Arsenal had 11 shots and Schmeichel’s only save of note came from the one effort after the break, pushing out a decent volley from Hector Bellerin.
Aubameyang who has not scored a goal since the Premier League 2020/21 season was largely anonymous. Thomas Partey made a much-vaunted full league debut in mid-field but was not alone in failing to shine as Arsenal painfully moved the ball slowly at times.