Mikel Arteta says he dislikes looking at the Premier League table but if his team keep playing like this, the Arsenal boss will find himself checking it far more regularly.

On a day one of the league’s most exciting players, Leicester winger Harvey Barnes, was carried off on a stretcher with a knee injury that will require surgery and a minimum six-week absence, Arsenal were able to rest Bukayo Saka and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and still record a hugely impressive victory – less than 72 hours after knocking Benfica out of the Europa League in Athens.

Youri Tielemans’ early strike put the Gunners on the back foot but they responded superbly and were in front at the break through David Luiz’s header and Alexandre Lacazette’s penalty.  

David Luiz (left) celebrates after heading Arsenal level from a free-kick shortly before half-time after Leicester had led early

Alexandre Lacazette (left) slotted home a penalty that ensured Arsenal had a 2-1 half-time lead at the King Power Stadium

Alexandre Lacazette (left) slotted home a penalty that ensured Arsenal had a 2-1 half-time lead at the King Power Stadium

Victory was secured early in the second-half when Nicolas Pepe tapped home to make it 3-1 to the Gunners

Victory was secured early in the second-half when Nicolas Pepe tapped home to make it 3-1 to the Gunners 

The outstanding Nicolas Pepe increased the advantage seven minutes after half-time, condemning Leicester to their sixth home defeat of the campaign in the league, and their second in four days after Slavia Prague’s win here in the Europa League last Thursday. 

Arsenal have struggled for consistency under Arteta yet this was an exciting hint at what might be possible if they can find it – though the Spaniard still wants more from his senior players.

‘They are the ones that have to drive us forward and then we can have something with the young talented players – but it can’t be the opposite way around,’ he said. ‘They need to have leadership and be accountable.

‘I want to rotate and give chances to players for the way they train. You can use any words to motivate a player but at the end they have to be on the field.’

The physical strain of this unique season is beginning to take its toll. Barnes’ Leicester team-mate Jonny Evans – who will have a scan on calf problem – and Arsenal playmaker Emile Smith Rowe were also taken off due to injury and Leicester’s squad looks worryingly threadbare, with James Maddison one of many key men absent. 

Jamie Vardy had 11 goals in his previous 12 league games against Arsenal but never threatened here. If they are to maintain their top-four spot and avoid a repeat of last season’s near-miss, Leicester need Vardy to improve quickly his current record of one goal in 12 matches. 

Leicester's Youri Tielemans was allowed to walk straight through the Arsenal backline to fire the hosts into an early lead

Leicester’s Youri Tielemans was allowed to walk straight through the Arsenal backline to fire the hosts into an early lead

Tielemans celebrates after handing Leicester the perfect start as they aimed to climb back into second place in the table

Tielemans celebrates after handing Leicester the perfect start as they aimed to climb back into second place in the table

Arsenal thought they'd won a penalty when Nicolas Pepe fell in the box but the illegal contact was adjudged to be outside

Arsenal thought they’d won a penalty when Nicolas Pepe fell in the box but the illegal contact was adjudged to be outside

Alexandre Lacazette waits to take a penalty that never was as the original award was overturned by VAR for a free-kick instead

Alexandre Lacazette waits to take a penalty that never was as the original award was overturned by VAR for a free-kick instead

MATCH FACTS AND RATINGS 

Leicester City (4-2-3-1): Schmeichel 6; Castagne 5.5, Evans 6.5 (Amartey 70, 6), Soyuncu 5.5, Thomas 4.5 (Albrighton 46, 6); Tielemans 6, Ndidi 5.5; Pereira 5, Iheanacho 6, Barnes 6 (Under 49, 6); Vardy 5.

Substitutes not used: Ward, Choudhury, Mendy, Fuchs, Daley-Campbell, Tavares.

Scorer: Tielemans 7   Booked: Thomas, Tielemans   Manager: Brendan Rodgers 5

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Leno 6; Soares 6.5, Luiz 7.5, Mari 7, Tierney 7; Elneny 6.5 (Partey 66, 6), Xhaka 6.5; PEPE 8, Smith Rowe 6.5 (Odegaard 42, 6), Willian 7; Lacazette 7 (Aubameyang 84). 

Substitutes not used: Ryan, Bellerin, Saka, Ceballos, Holding, Martinelli.

Scorers: Luiz 39, Lacazette (pen) 45+1, Pepe 52   Booked: Tierney   Manager: Mikel Arteta 8

‘Harvey Barnes will have an operation,’ said Rodgers. ‘It’s at least six weeks [out]. A bit of bone has come away from his knee, [so it’s] cartilage related. It’s a huge blow for us.’

Arsenal had lost three of their previous four league games and they looked to be facing another uphill struggle when Leicester moved ahead in the sixth minute.

Kelechi Iheanacho – in for the injured Maddison – cut out Granit Xhaka’s attempted pass to Willian and Tielemans seized on the loose ball. With no Arsenal player attempting a challenge, the Belgian marched into the box and found the bottom corner with an angled shot.

Yet once behind, the visitors came to life. They were awarded a penalty when Pepe fell between Tielemans and Wilfred Ndidi, only for that to change to a free-kick just outside the box on VAR review. 

Arsenal were undaunted, though, showing energy and aggression and finding Pepe, who was tormenting young left-back Luke Thomas, whenever they could.

Thomas did make one vital contribution in the 26th minute when he threw himself in front of Pepe’s strike, and moments later Willian shot just wide from 20 yards following a clever move involving Smith Rowe, Pepe and Kieran Tierney. 

David Luiz made a perfectly-timed dart into a pocket of space to head home Nicolas Pepe's free-kick from the right

David Luiz made a perfectly-timed dart into a pocket of space to head home Nicolas Pepe’s free-kick from the right

Arsenal were then awarded a penalty when Wilfried Ndidi handled inside the area from Nicolas Pepe's rising shot

Arsenal were then awarded a penalty when Wilfried Ndidi handled inside the area from Nicolas Pepe’s rising shot

At the other end, Ricardo Pereira should have found Vardy after Tierney had misjudged Caglar Soyuncu’s cross-field pass, and Leicester were made to pay when Arsenal equalised six minutes before half-time.

Yet another foul by Thomas on Pepe finally earned the Foxes man a booking and this time Arsenal made it count. Willian guided the ball over and Luiz planted a diving header beyond Kasper Schmeichel after losing Timothy Castagne.

Having lost out on VAR earlier in the half, Arsenal were thankful for it in the closing seconds. Play was originally allowed to continue after Pepe’s cross had hit Ndidi on the arm, yet referee Paul Tierney gave a penalty after a quick check of the pitchside monitor. Lacazette sent Schmeichel the wrong way from the spot. 

Alexandre Lacazette was on target from 12 yards, sending Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel the wrong way to make it 2-1

Alexandre Lacazette was on target from 12 yards, sending Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel the wrong way to make it 2-1

Nicolas Pepe was left with a mere tap in from Willian's ball across the box as Arsenal wrapped up their deserved victory

Nicolas Pepe was left with a mere tap in from Willian’s ball across the box as Arsenal wrapped up their deserved victory

Pepe's goal was just reward for an Arsenal performance of control less than 72 hours after they knocked Benfica out

Pepe’s goal was just reward for an Arsenal performance of control less than 72 hours after they knocked Benfica out

The afternoon went from bad to worse for Leicester when Harvey Barnes was carried off on a stretcher with a knee injury

The afternoon went from bad to worse for Leicester when Harvey Barnes was carried off on a stretcher with a knee injury

Arsenal substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang came close to adding a fourth for his side with a late shot flashed wide

Arsenal substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang came close to adding a fourth for his side with a late shot flashed wide

They stretched the lead soon after half-time as Leicester’s day turned bleaker. Barnes, who has 13 goals this season, sustained what looked like a serious injury as he stretched for Tielemans’ through-ball – yet another blow for Rodgers who is already without Maddison, James Justin, Wesley Fofana, Dennis Praet and Ayoze Perez.

Still reeling from Barnes’ departure, Leicester conceded the third. Pepe found Martin Odegaard – who had replaced Smith Rowe just before half-time – and when the Norwegian slipped the ball to his left, Willian reached it just before Schmeichel and guided across goal for Pepe to tap in.

Evans had been one of Leicester’s few decent performers but he, too, succumbed to injury with 20 minutes remaining. At this rate, Rodgers will struggle to put out an XI at Burnley on Wednesday. ‘We have to dig deep now,’ he added. ‘We will do our best with what is available until the end of the season. 

Scroll down to re-live how the action unfolded with ADAM SHERGOLD.