Leicester moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League after a 1-0 win at Vicarage Road in the evening after Tottenham and Arsenal drew 2-2 – the flawless result for the title-chasing Foxes. “We respected them before the match and we respect them now”.
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Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez (L) vies with Tottenham Hotspur’s Erik Lamela during their English Premier League match at White Hart Lane in London on Saturday.
Leicester dominated the first half against Watford but were unable to breach a disciplined defence until the 56th minute when Mahrez produced a moment of class with a fine strike from the edge of the penalty area.
“It was an important win, a big battle”, Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri said.
Mahrez has scored 11 of his 15 league goals away from home this season, and Ranieri added of the winger: “I don’t like to compare players because each player is different”. We are there to provide the fundamental base for them to do their magic and again Riyad has come up with the goods. Did you see today?
It was very tough, we knew coming here would be a tough ask, Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel told Sky Sports. I don’t know who is behind us, I said to my players “every match is a final”. Our job was to save the team, and doing this was an fantastic achievement. But he continued to play before being substituted in the 85th minute and Ranieri allayed fears by confirming Mahrez was simply suffering from cramp. I don’t know how many points we need.
So does the rest of the Premier League now, particularly the fact that the 25-year-old cost Leicester just £400,000 from French second division side Le Havre, making the North African one of the greatest bargains in Premier League history.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger thought Coquelin’s sending-off for a needless foul wide on the touchline had been decisive.
Despite good chances for Watford strikers Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo, the visitors, who flirted with relegation last season, held on and now have nine games between them and a historic first title triumph.
The result leaves Arsenal eight points behind Leicester and Wenger refused to get drawn into a discussion about whether his side were still in the title race.
Pochettino said Spurs still had the necessary quality to win the league.
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Ahead of their nine remaining games, Ranieri turned up the pressure on their title rivals. “We always try the best in every situation”.
