Arsenal vs Leicester result: Jamie Vardy punishes Arsenal to earn Leicester point in gripping top four race

Arsenal 1-1 Leicester: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had earned the lead for the Gunners

Just when it felt like Arsenal’s front three may yet make a top four, Leicester City’s two key men ensured what might be one of the most singularly important moments of the Champions League chase. This pulsating 1-1 really did come down to the numbers, not least the fact Eddie Nketiah’s red card reduced Mikel Arteta’s to 10 men at a crucial stage of the game.

Up to that moment, Kasper Schmeichel had been the only reason Leicester were still in the game, pulling out a series of brilliant stops. Jamie Vardy - who may have been lucky to stay on the pitch hmself - then kept them in the top four with a fine finish, and one crucial goal.

It may yet be the most significant moment of Leicester’s season.

It could prove a costly moment in Arsenal’s own burgeoning restart.

They could genuinely start harbouring new hopes of the top four in the moments before Nketiah’s red card, because of Arteta’s new forward line. This was the first time he chose to play all of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alex Lacazette and the electric Bukayo Saka in attack, and it looked transformative – even if it doesn’t change the outcome of this season as regards the Champions League.

Perez is pressed by Saka (Getty)

They had been that good, the movement of the front three bringing that supreme opening goal from Aubameyang. The French striker going off for Nketiah wasn’t just symbolic but significant. The young forward immediately went in rashly on James Justin, and was sent off.

That transformed this individual match.

It will be hugely frustrating for Arteta, because of how good the system looked before the red card, how much promise it offered.

Most of all, of course, there is the sheer excitement offered by that front line.

There was first of all the speed. It’s exhilarating. All three are so fast that they’re hard to keep up with. Jonny Evans’s fall for the goal wasn’t the only time the legs of a Leicester player just gave way in trying. This match won’t be the last time, either.

There’s then the play at speed, the interchanges. This, really, is what we watch football for. It was often exquisite, and usually a combination or switch between swift dribbles and sweeping one-touch moves.

The attack shortly after the goal was a fine example of that. Aubameyang lusciously laid the ball off to Saka, for Lacazette to force another fine save out of Schmeichel.

The Dane was really the only reason that Arsenal weren’t out of sight, scorching off into the horizon through that super-fast front three. He was also the only Leicester player to match the performance of Arsenal’s front three.

He was a major reason they claimed a point.

Vardy celebrates equalising for Leicester (Getty)

There were at least four excellent saves, from each of the forwards, as well as one from Hector Bellerin’s instinctive and inventive strike near the by-line.

This is something else that was encouraging for Arsenal, though.

Emiliano Martinez had to offer a few good stops of his own, particularly from Kelechi Iheanacho at the end of a well-worked corner in the opening minutes.

Beyond that, though, Leicester didn’t have too many clear-cut chances before the red. But that wasn’t because of their recent drop-off. They actually looked sharp, and mobile.

Arsenal, however, also looked sturdy.

That was what might be especially encouraging for Arteta.

It wasn’t just that the front three immediately clicked. It was that it seemed to be one of those selection decisions that instantly made the whole team fit even more; that made this 3-4-3 formation make even more sense for more of the players – something that good tactical management is all about.

Bellerin, Kieran Tierney, David Luiz and Dani Ceballos look especially comfortable in this system.

If fast forwards always love playing with midfielders who can thread a pass, it must be joyous for a player like Ceballos to be able to pick a pass for three such runners. They’re like the easiest of brush strokes.

Aubameyang celebrates with Saka (Getty)

For that opening goal, Ceballos picked out Saka, who just surged past Evans with the simplest bit of trickery. The winger might have taken it on himself to score, but instead played one of those gloriously inviting swerved balls, for Aubameyang to finish.

Arsenal’s trio celebrated together, as the defenders were left looking up from the ground. That might become a familiar image – but not so much at the other end.

It doesn’t seem unfair to say that if David Luiz had been responsible for the fall that Evans was, he would have been pilloried. The Brazilian was instead so sure-footed, a three-man backline just the perfect – and perhaps only – defensive system for him. It also best uses the attacking force of Bellerin and Tierney. The left-back matched Bellerin’s effort with one beautifully-caught long-range strike, bringing an especially acrobatic save out of Schmeichel.

The red changed that, but wasn’t the sole reason for the turnaround.

Leicester had been pushing before that, enjoying more of the territory. It already looked like they’d rediscovered their verve. Vardy has certainly rediscovered his touch. After a spell of just three goals in 15 games, this was now three in two. It shouldn't be overlooked he also found Shkodran Mustafi's head with a boot. Arsenal can have legitimate greivance over that.

The goal mathematically ensures Leicester stay in the top four for this match week no matter what else happens. Whether it’s enough for the rest of the season remains to be seen. Arsenal’s new front three looks like it may be enough for the Champions League in the future.

That will be no succor for Arteta and Nketiah right now. It is solace for Brendan Rodgers.