LONDON // For long periods it did not look like happening, but in the end Arsenal found a way.
Danny Simpson's red card early in the second half ensured it would be a backs-to-the-wall job for Leicester City for the remainder of the game, with Claudio Ranieri's side desperate to keep their one-goal advantage intact.
Despite their admirable efforts, it was not to be. Theo Walcott levelled the scores with 20 minutes remaining, before the returning Danny Welbeck netted a dramatic winner with virtually the last touch of the game, deftly guiding Mesut Ozil's free kick past Kasper Schmeichel and into the back of the net.
If Arsenal go on to win the Premier League this term, that goal will almost certainly be looked back on as the decisive moment that swung the race in their favour.
It has certainly given them an excellent chance. When Jamie Vardy converted from the penalty spot in the first half, Arsenal were on their way to falling eight points behind leaders Leicester; Welbeck’s winner, though, ensures the gap separating them from the summit is only two.
And yet although they left the Emirates Stadium with nothing after losing in the most heartbreaking of circumstances, Leicester remain in a fantastic position with just 12 games of the campaign remaining.
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Unlike fellow contenders Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, Ranieri’s men have no European or cup commitments to distract them from their title bid.
Whereas their three rivals could still play over 25 times between now and the end of May, Leicester know they only have a dozen matches left to contest.
Their fixture list in the next month and a half is favourable too, with home games with Norwich City, West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle United and trips to Watford and Crystal Palace awaiting them between now and the start of April.
While those opponents are likely to test Leicester’s capacity to break down deep defences when there is reduced space on the counter-attack, a run that does not feature a single match against a top-eight team is undoubtedly a positive.
Even more pertinently, they once again showed they have what it takes to pull off the biggest shock in English football history on Sunday afternoon.
Arsenal began the game well, moving the ball around tidily and forcing Leicester to give chase.
It was not long before the visitors began to assert themselves, however. N’Golo Kante gobbled up space in the middle of the park, winning the ball back before distributing it intelligently, while Marc Albrighton caused problems with his terrific delivery from wide areas.
Photo gallery: Arsenal, Leicester, Tottenham and Manchester City battle at EPL summit
There may have been an element of controversy to the penalty incident, but Leicester were good value for their lead at the interval.
If the table-toppers’ quality was on show in the first period, they demonstrated their character in the second.
Although the hosts eventually did enough to secure a vital victory, they generally lacked composure against 10 men.
Walcott’s strike in the 70th minute was Arsenal’s first shot on target, while Aaron Ramsey, Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez were all guilty of snatching at decent goalscoring chances.
While Leicester inevitably sank deeper as the clock ticked away and their energy levels drained further, they still almost held out for what would have been a hugely impressive draw.
In hindsight, Ranieri’s substitution of Riyad Mahrez was perhaps not the best decision, but a rash foul by Marcin Wasilewski that led to the Ozil free kick was ultimately what made the difference.
It is worth remembering that Leicester have now travelled to Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham in the last month and taken six points from a possible nine.
They have also comfortably beaten Liverpool and Stoke City during that time, and still sit on top of the table after what was – on paper at least – their hardest run of the season.
Arsenal’s win puts them right back in the title picture, but Leicester should not be written off just yet.
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