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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Chris Doyle

Alan Shearer leaps to Arsenal's defence after Kasper Schmeichel leads Leicester rage

Alan Shearer has defended Alexandre Lacazette's run-up to his penalty as Leicester City fumed at the referee.

The Frenchman netted an emphatic spot-kick to double the Gunners' lead in the second-half following a handball by Caglar Soyuncu as Mikel Arteta's men sealed a 2-0 win over the Foxes.

Kasper Schmeichel went the right way but could do nothing about Lacazette's finish that went into the top corner as the striker ended his goal drought for the north Londoners.

But the Leicester keeper felt there was an infringement in Lacazette's run-up as he stuttered before unleashing his effort into the back of the net.

Schmeichel ran straight to Anthony Taylor to make his case as Lacazette reeled away in celebration with his teammates.

Leicester players joined the Dane in swarming the whistler but it was to no avail as the goal was given.

But Alan Shearer, like the ref, didn't see anything wrong with Lacazette's spot-kick and believes it was the correct decision for the goal to stand.

"Well, he would have a problem, he’s a goalkeeper,” the former England striker said on Premier League Productions. “I don’t see any problem with that.

“Kasper won’t be happy that he stop-starts his run.

"You wouldn’t have known that, the way he took that penalty, he hasn’t scored for so long because that was taken with confidence.

“High into the net. The goalkeeper had absolutely no chance and there is nothing wrong with that. It’s a good penalty and it rightfully stood.”

Lacazette scored his first goal since Boxing Day as Arsenal made it five wins on the bounce to boost their chances of a top-four finish.

And Mikel Arteta was delighted with the no.9's performance as he continues to be an effective focal point for Arsenal.

"I think he was terrific today again," Arteta told Arsenal's official website.

"I think the way he understands the game, what we want, the confidence that he transmits to the rest of the players in the team is crucial. I’m really happy with him.

"I'm very pleased [with the team] because it’s always really difficult to play against this Leicester team.

"They are really well set-up, they are in really good form. They were playing well, they were winning matches, and I expected a really tough match, and I think it was a really tough match.

"We needed a big performance, collectively and individually and I think that’s the reason why we won the game, because we were at it."

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