Arsenal 1-0 Leicester: Late Robert Huth own goal hands Gunners victory

A late Robert Huth own goal kept Arsenal's top-four hopes alive with a 1-0 victory over Leicester at the Emirates on Wednesday night.

Despite having nearly 70 per cent possession, Arsenal failed to break down the Foxes back line until the 86th minute, when Nacho Monreal's wayward effort hit the unfortunate Huth and deflected past Kasper Schmeichel.

Leicester twice went close through Riyad Mahrez in the first half, while Alexis Sanchez crashed a long-range effort off the crossbar on the stroke of half-time.

The result means Arsenal are now four points off fourth-place Manchester City and six off third-place Liverpool, though the Gunners have two games in hand on Jurgen Klopp's side.

Arsene Wenger opted for a 3-5-2 formation again, starting Monreal as part of the central defensive three, while Theo Walcott started up front for the Gunners.

Despite Arsenal's dominance in possession, it was Leicester who had the first two chances of the game as Jamie Vardy struck just wide from a Marc Albrighton cut-back, before Mahrez forced Petr Cech into a fine save with a fierce half-volley from 10 yards.

Walcott then brought another save from Schmeichel with a poked effort from eight yards, while at the other end, Mahrez hit the side-netting on the break.

Arsenal ended the half on a promising note as Sanchez went close, hitting the bar with a superb effort from 25 yards following what was a hugely frustrating opening 45 minutes for the Chilean.

Schmeichel had to be alert in the second half as Granit Xhaka's deflected shot almost caught him off guard, before sub Shinji Okazaki had an effort from 12 yards blocked brilliantly by man-of-the-match Gabriel.

Arsenal finally broke the deadlock with four minutes remaining as the ball broke to Monreal on the edge of the box. His effort, which was heading well wide of goal, came off the chest of Huth as Olivier Giroud put him under pressure, leaving Schmeichel no chance.

There was an embarrassing incident in the final moments as a frustrated Christian Fuchs directed a throw-in towards the head of Sanchez at point-blank range, after the Arsenal man had been standing on the byline in an attempt to put the Austrian off.

Sanchez, who was hit on his shoulder but belatedly went down holding his face, was booked for the incident, before Arsenal held on for a much-needed victory.

Player ratings

Arsenal: Cech (6), Gabriel (8), Koscielny (6), Monreal (6), Bellerin (5), Coquelin (5), Xhaka (5), Gibbs (5), Ozil (5), Sanchez (5), Walcott (4)

Subs: Ramsey (5), Welbeck (5), Giroud (6)

Leicester: Schmeichel (6), Simpson (6), Benalouane (6), Huth (7), Fuchs (6), Mahrez (6), Ndidi (6), Drinkwater (6), Albrighton (6), Ulloa (6), Vardy (6)

Subs: Okazaki (6), Gray (NA)

Man of the match: Gabriel