Leicester’s lead cut to 2 points after 2-1 loss at Arsenal

Betway offer 1-2 that the trophy ends up in north London after Danny Welbeck’s 95th-minute header gave Arsenal a 2-1 home win over leaders Leicester and Tottenham emulated that scoreline at Manchester City to go second on goal difference. “On the second occasion when they got a player sent off, we might have been a bit lucky”, Mertesacker said.

“Everyone is extremely happy for him (Welbeck) because he’s been out for 10 months. That is an eternity for a player”.

Leicester had earlier taken a first-half lead through Jamie Vardy, who scored his 19th league goal of the season from the penalty spot after being brought down by Nacho Monreal. The referee was OK – but maybe a little bit severe on us. And we took as well all the risks to win it.

Ranieri made a deal with his players that nine points from this run of matches would earn them some time away, with Leicester not involved in the fifth round of the FA Cup next weekend.

Tottenham had the better of the first half without threatening Joe Hart’s goal, but went ahead after the break as Raheem Sterling was adjudged to have handballed Danny Rose’s cross in his own penalty area.

Divock Origi burst through to make it 4-0 a minute after coming on as a substitute before England defender Nathaniel Clyne made it 5-0 with a tap-in and Kolo Toure headed a sixth in the 70th.

Substitute Kelechi Iheanacho equalized in the 74th, only for Eriksen to race onto Erik Lamela’s through-ball and slip a low finish past goalkeeper Joe Hart.

“I believe that we put the right level of intensity from the first minute to the last minute in this game”. I planned on Friday morning to play him next week.

“So that was a big mental hurdle for the team, we were under shock at half-time”.

But Schmeichel is adamant that Leicester – whose players were given a week off after the match by Ranieri – will not fold after this setback.

A fingertip interception from Hugo Lloris denied City an equalizer at the death, Manuel Pellegrini’s men suffering a real setback in its bid for a second English championship crown in three years. We tried to stick to our game and not be influenced by the referee’s decision. “We overturned eight points to two – it is a significant difference”. We are not going to give up, but Leicester and Tottenham are fighting for the title. “We need to improve in a lot of things”. “The spirit of the team is very good”.

Arsenal’s tense victory had got the enhanced treble underway before Liverpool’s crushing 6-0 rout of Aston Villa enabled backers to rest easy but hope foundered on the banks of the Ashton Canal.

But after Ramsey had drilled wide and Giroud had headed another chance over, their luck changed when Simpson was shown a second yellow card for tugging Giroud back, five minutes after his first for tripping Sanchez.

“The ending was like a great movie”, Henry told Sky Sports.