Leicester City can count themselves incredibly unlucky to have left The Emirates with nothing after a 4-2 defeat against Arsenal.
After a week in which Leicester City drew 1-1 at home against Everton before drawing 0-0 at Walsall in the Carabao Cup, few would’ve have thought the Foxes would be able to compete with Arsenal.
In truth, that was how it played out in the first-half but, having gone in 2-0 down at half-time, whatever Steve Cooper said to his players worked as an unlikely James Justin brace levelled the scores at 2-2 less than 20 minutes later.
Leicester gave everything to secure a shock away point at title-contenders Arsenal, but were left heartbroken as a cruel 94th-minute Wilfred Ndidi own goal broke their resistance before Kai Havertz made it 4-2 before full-time.
Leicester City’s Mads Hermansen praised after Arsenal defeat
Leicester’s outfield players defended for their lives in the second-half as they tried to see out the draw but this did not mean goalkeeper Mads Hermansen was not busy.
In fact, it was quite the opposite as Arsenal managed a quite remarkable 36 shots and 17 corners as they laid siege on the Leicester goal.
Hermansen was on top form despite ultimately conceding four as he made 13 saves to give Leicester hope of an upset.
BBC Sport journalist John Bennet was certainly left impressed by what he saw from the Danish stopper, posting on X: “Leicester City’s recruitment has been very hit and miss over the last few years…
“But you can very comfortably put Mads Hermansen in the hit column, and then some. Top, modern keeper already and huge potential to get even better.”
Hermansen key to Leicester City survival hopes
Bennet is certainly right to say Leicester’s recent recruitment has been a mixed bag, but Director of Football Jon Rudkin does deserve praise for the signing of Hermansen.
Leicester paid Danish club Brondby a fee of around £6 million to sign Hermansen in summer 2023 having identified the goalkeeper as someone who would be capable of playing Enzo Maraca’s possession-based style.
Whilst there has not been so much of a focus on his strengths in possession since the arrival of Cooper, the 24-year-old has showed that he is a very solid goalkeeper who is at home in the Premier League.
Cooper knows his Hermansen will be crucial to his hopes of keeping Leicester in the top flight this season and the goalkeeper will be hoping for a much quieter game against Bournemouth next time out.