Leicester City performed to the “maximum of their capabilities” against Arsenal, and future displays at the same level will see luck and results turn in their favor, according to manager Ruud van Nistelrooy.
City appeared to be on course for a draw against the title-chasing Gunners on Saturday afternoon but conceded two late goals to substitute Mikel Merino in the final 10 minutes, extending their winless run to nine defeats in their last 10 Premier League matches.
This marked the fifth consecutive home league game in which City failed to score, but van Nistelrooy had no criticism for his team’s performance. In his view, they played as well as they possibly could.
“If you get absolutely battered by Arsenal today and without a kick in the game and absolutely no chance, then the result and the performance are not there,” van Nistelrooy said in his post-match press conference.
“I’ve said this many times before, we’ve had good performances and again one today, to the maximum of our capabilities. We have to keep going like this, then results will come and luck will change in our favour.
“It’s clear we’re doing absolutely what we can. I can’t ask for any more from the players in terms of commitment and spirit and the physical performance they put in.
“The way they were playing together and stopping this Arsenal team from playing and scoring for an awful long time, creating ourselves and playing the way we want to play, going direct when we couldn’t.
“We did everything possible today and then you can’t ask any more. You have to be proud of this team and supportive of this team, and with the belief that we keep going like this and results will come.”
In the first 80 minutes, Arsenal twice hit the woodwork through Ethan Nwaneri, but otherwise, City managed to keep them at bay.
City also created a few promising chances of their own. Wilfred Ndidi headed wide just before halftime, but the biggest opportunity fell to Bobby De Cordova-Reid in the second half, only for Myles Lewis-Skelly to make a crucial intervention, denying the Jamaican a clear goal.
“It’s clearly a game of fine margins,” van Nistelrooy added. “After 81 minutes, it’s 0-0, we had some chances where we could go up just before half-time, with Ndidi with the header, and with his volley as well.
“The second half, on the break, with Ayew’s cross, just touched by Lewis-Skelly, to go up in the game late and get the place buzzing and create the momentum.
“In the 80th minute, it’s 0-0, we’re in the game and we’re in for a result against a top team. In the end, it’s the fine margins, you don’t score yourself and Merino comes in and makes the difference there.”
