Will Arsenal move for deadline-day striker after toothless performance at Leicester?
'We are open' to last-day move, says Arsene Wenger
Arsenal were frustrated by newcomers Leicester on Sunday, dropping points for the second time in three Premier League games in a 1-1 draw.
Alexis Sanchez followed up his first Champions League goal for Arsenal on Wednesday with his first domestic strike in the 20th minute in central England.
But Leonardo Ulloa headed in Leicester’s equaliser inside two minutes to leave Arsenal with one win and two draws from their opening matches of the domestic campaign.
The game underlined Arsenal’s need for striking reinforcements as Yaya Sanogo struggled to make an impact. Sanogo was given the responsibility to lead Arsenal’s attack after Olivier Giroud was ruled out until late December with a broken tibia.
“We are open [to signing a striker],” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. “We work on it but let’s not fool ourselves the solution every time you don’t win is to buy a player.”
But it had been a positive opening at Leicester when Alexis pounced for his first league goals. Neat play saw Santi Cazorla loft the ball to Sanogo and, when the striker made a hash of his effort, the ball fell to Sanchez to smash in from six yards.
The lead lasted just two minutes though as Per Mertesacker allowed Jeff Schlupp to run and his cross was headed into the net by Ulloa from 12 yards.
The striker beat Laurent Koscielny to the ball with the France defender still feeling the after-effects of an earlier knock and he was immediately replaced by Calum Chambers.
Ulloa continued to threaten after the break and should have fired Leicester ahead. Schlupp’s ball dissected Arsenal and when Chambers dived in the striker could only hit the side netting from eight yards.
Arsenal immediately broke and Aaron Ramsey headed straight at goalkeepers Kasper Schmeichel with Sanogo waiting for a tap in before the striker himself was thwarted by a smart save.
“We just weren’t clinical enough in front of goal to convert the chances into goals,” Ramsey said.
