A sublime display from captain Mesut Ozil inspired Arsenal as they came from behind to beat Leicester in the Premier League and extend their winning run to 10 games.
After a shaky start from the Gunners, Leicester took the lead through a Hector Bellerin own goal but Ozil – back in the side following a back spasm – turned home an equaliser on the stroke of half-time.
Mesu Ozil celebrates scoring Arsenal's opener.Credit:AP
He was then heavily involved in two goals for substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who had also netted twice off the bench at Fulham last time out, with Arsenal eventually running out 3-1 winners at the Emirates Stadium.
Coach Unai Emery will be slightly concerned by the pedestrian nature of Arsenal's opening 40 minutes, but the Spaniard will be pleased to toast a seven-match Premier League winning streak which has taken his side to within two points of the top.
While Arsenal were flat-footed from the start, the visitors started particularly brightly with Kelechi Iheanacho twice threatening in the opening exchanges.
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Bernd Leno made a superb stop to keep out Harry Maguire's header as Claude Puel's side continued to dominate, before Jamie Vardy came within inches of heading in Ricardo Pereira's cross.
The constant pressure soon paid off as Leicester took the lead, albeit in fortuitous circumstances, as Wilfried Ndidi fed Ben Chilwell and his pass deflected in off Bellerin, wrong-footing Leno in the process.
The visitors were unable to hold out until the interval as Arsenal's head of steam saw them draw level courtesy of Ozil, who steered Bellerin's low cross past Kasper Schmeichel with aplomb in the last minute of the half.
The hosts were visibly lifted by their leveller as the second half commenced, Henrikh Mkhitaryan spurning a decent chance after smart work from Alexandre Lacazette.
Emery looked to change things around by introducing both Matteo Guendouzi and Aubameyang from the bench with an hour gone as Stephan Lichtsteiner and Mkhitaryan made way.
It took the Gabon striker less than two minutes to make the difference, sweeping home from close-range after Ozil's perfect pass allowed Bellerin to send in a low cross.
Ozil was again heavily involved as Arsenal scored their third of the night soon after, Aubameyang tucking home from in front of goal after a delicious pass from the German.
The win extended Arsenal's unbeaten run to 10 matches ahead of Thursday's Europa League clash with Sporting Lisbon.
"We are happy because we are progressing. We need to play with organisation but also with heart," Emery told Sky Sports.
"We are beginning to play with heart.
"When you continue to improve your demands are very high. We need to control the matches more than we are doing now.
"First half we didn't play well, but then we played with quality and heart. This feeling together is very good."
PA
