By Martyn Herman

LONDON, Sept 28 (Reuters) – Leandro Trossard has erased the memory of his red card last week as he played a crucial role in Arsenal's 4-2 Premier League win over Leicester City after the Londoners somehow had lost a two-goal lead.

The Belgian had given Arsenal a 2-0 lead just before half-time and it was his shot at the back post, deflected in by Leicester's Wilfred Ndidi, that restored Arsenal's lead in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

Kai Havertz then secured the victory, which brought Arsenal level with league leaders Manchester City on 14 points.

When Trossard's fine finish doubled Arsenal's lead, it looked as if the hosts would win by a margin big enough to overtake City as league leaders on goal difference after Pep Guardiola's side drew 1-1 at Newcastle United. Had to accept a draw.

But James Justin's brace – his second, a superb volley in the 63rd minute – stunned the hosts as Leicester, who had been almost out of touch in the early stages, moved to 2-2.

Arsenal fired at the visitors' goal to take the three points and Leicester's winless defense finally cracked when Trossard got on the end of a corner from Bukayo Saka and his shot bounced off Ndidi.

The goal was originally awarded to Trossard but turned into an own goal, although Arsenal questioned that decision.

Although it wasn't Arsenal's best performance, it was the ideal statement after City's victory was denied by a last-gasp equalizer after playing the entire second half with 10 men after Trossard's red card, who served his one-game ban by missing his team's League Cup victory this week.

Even better news for the Gunners was that Gabriel Martinelli was back to form after a dry spell.

His angled finish, which gave Arsenal the lead after 20 minutes, was his first goal for the club since March, and he set up Trossard's goal just before half-time.

“I'm really happy with the performance, I think we deserved to win,” said the Brazilian, who converted Jurrien Timber's pullback past Leicester keeper Mads Hermansen.

“We played really well, we suffered a little bit. We didn’t deserve to suffer so much, but we won the game and that’s the most important thing.”

Leicester will take some heart from the way they fought their way back into the game and looked set to take an unlikely point as Hermansen made several excellent saves while Arsenal pushed forward in response to having thrown away the lead.

“It's another defeat and results always set the tone, but there were so many positives,” said Leicester coach Steve Cooper, whose side lie 16th with three points.

“We’ve got to try to keep going, keep capitalizing on what’s going well and just improve.”

Strangely, many Arsenal fans left the game early because their team were hoping for victory, but they should know better that Arteta's team will carry on until the end.

“It got very emotional,” Arteta told reporters. “Definitely more than we wanted. After 2-0 the result should have been bigger. This is the Premier League.”

“They scored two goals. But I’m very happy with the way we responded.”

(Reporting by Martyn Herman, Editing by Christian Radnedge and Toby Davis)