Welbeck scores dramatic late winner for Arsenal over Leicester City

  • 15/02/2016
Danny Welbeck (Getty Images)
Danny Welbeck (Getty Images)

Danny Welbeck came off the bench for his first game in 10 months to earn Arsenal the most dramatic of last-gasp comeback wins over Premier League leaders Leicester City at an ecstatic Emirates Stadium with his 95th-minute winner.

The England striker, sidelined since last April with knee injuries, could not have dreamed of a more extraordinary return, his glancing header from Mesut Ozil’s free kick deep into injury time earning them the 2-1 victory which narrows Leicester’s lead at the top to just two points.

It was a triumph which had looked hugely unlikely after Jamie Vardy had put Leicester ahead from the penalty spot just before halftime, a 19th goal of the season for the league’s leading marksman.

Yet the whole complexion of the game changed after the break when Leicester were forced to play the last 35 minutes with just 10 men after Danny Simpson had received two yellow cards for rash challenges in the space of five minutes.

After 15 minutes of incessant pressure, another substitute Theo Walcott almost inevitably smashed in the equaliser but Leicester still looked ready to celebrate a victory of sorts after they held out stoically and Arsenal wasted a series of chances until deep into injury time.

Then, after earning a free kick in Leicester’s half, Ozil, the league’s leading provider of goals, created havoc in the Leicester rearguard with a lovely floated free kick which saw Welbeck, who had been introduced with just over five minutes left, leap highest to provide the finest of touches.

It was Ozil's 17th goal assist of the season.

For once in this campaign of fairytales for Leicester, there was a nightmarish ending as Arsenal’s home erupted in a crescendo of joy rarely heard at the ground as their heroes went on a lap of honour.

Reuters