Arsenal score two stoppage-time goals to beat Leicester 4-2 in English Premier League

LONDON – Leandro Trossard erased the memory of his red card last week with a brilliant performance as Arsenal squandered a two-goal lead at home to Leicester City but struck twice in injury time for a 4-2 win in the English Premier League on Sept 28.

When the Belgian forward’s cool finish made it 2-0 to the hosts in first-half stoppage time at the Emirates, it seemed Arsenal might even win by a big enough margin to replace Manchester City as leaders.

However, defender James Justin’s double stunned the hosts early in the second half as Leicester, almost non-existent in the opening period, somehow found themselves back at 2-2.

Arsenal peppered the visitors’ goal in search of a winner and the winless Leicester’s rearguard eventually cracked, as Trossard got on the end of Bukayo Saka’s cross to guide his volley towards goal. A heavy deflection off Wilfred Ndidi was attributed as an own goal as the Gunners led 3-2 in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

Kai Havertz then added a fourth with virtually the last kick of the game, as Arsenal moved level with City on 14 points from six games after Pep Guardiola’s side drew at Newcastle United earlier.

While it was not the best Arsenal display, it was the ideal statement after being denied victory at City by a last-gasp equaliser after playing the entire second half with 10 men following the red card for Trossard.

Even better news for the Gunners was the sight of Gabriel Martinelli back in form after a lean spell.

His angled finish that put Arsenal in front after 20 minutes was his first goal for the club since March and he then set up Trossard’s goal just before half-time.

“I’m really happy with the performance, I think we deserved the win,” the Brazilian said.

“We played really well, we suffered a bit. We didn’t deserve to suffer that much, but we won the game and this is the most important thing.”

At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea forward Cole Palmer scored four first-half goals, including a stunning long-range free kick and a penalty, in a breathless 4-2 Premier League victory over Brighton & Hove Albion.

Goalkeeping errors at both ends, high defensive lines and speedy counter-attacks contributed to a thrilling encounter, with Brighton’s French forward Georginio Rutter putting the visitors ahead in the seventh minute before Palmer’s 10-minute hat-trick.

Carlos Baleba pulled a goal back for Fabian Hurzeler’s side in the 34th minute after a second error from former Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, before Palmer made it four shortly before half-time from a perfectly weighted Jadon Sancho assist.

The rampant Palmer, who also hit the post in the first half, became the first player to score four goals in the first half of a Premier League match.

The England international should have added a fifth in the second half but put the ball wide with only goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen to beat.

After an enthralling first half, the second was scoreless. But the damage to the visitors had been done as the Seagulls succumbed to their first defeat under Hurzeler.

Since losing to Manchester City on the opening weekend of the season, Chelsea have taken 13 points from a possible 15 to make a fine start under Enzo Maresca.

The Blues moved to third in the league standings, though Liverpool could leapfrog them as the Reds took on Wolverhampton Wanderers in the later game. REUTERS, AFP