LONDON, March 6: Leicester City�s Riyad Mahrez scored a brilliant goal to earn a 1-0 win at Watford that sent them five points clear at the top of the Premier League after Tottenham Hotspur drew 2-2 with 10-man Arsenal on Saturday.
Manchester City revived their fading title hopes with a 4-0 rout of bottom club Aston Villa and the pressure mounted on Newcastle United manager Steve McClaren after a 3-1 home defeat by Bournemouth.
Leicester dominated the first half against Watford but were unable to breach a disciplined defence until the 56th minute when Mahrez produced a moment of class with a fine strike from the edge of the penalty area.
�It was very tough, we knew coming here would be a tough ask,� Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel told Sky Sports.
�Riyad has come up with a bit of magic so we are delighted,� he added. �I think all the way through we have had the belief that we have the players going forward to do something special.�
Arsenal, who had Francis Coquelin sent off early in the second half, will be happier than Spurs with a point in the north London derby after Alexis Sanchez grabbed a late equaliser to end a run of three successive defeats in all competitions.
Toby Alderweireld�s low angled drive and Harry Kane�s brilliant curling shot had put Tottenham ahead after Aaron Ramsey�s clever flicked finish gave Arsenal the lead.
�You feel frustrated and disappointed because at 11 against 10 you need to keep that result,� Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino said.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger thought Coquelin�s sending-off for a needless foul wide on the touchline had been decisive.
�I�m happy and proud of our attitude, we refused to lose the game,� Wenger said after his side avoided suffering four straight defeats for the first time since 2002.
�But we have big regrets because I couldn�t see when it was 11 versus 11 how we would drop points today. We made a big mistake at 1-0. (Coquelin) knows he made a mistake.�
Leicester lead the standings on 60 points with Tottenham on 55, Arsenal 52 and Manchester City 50. � Agencies
