Dutch international Giovanni van Bronckhorst steered Arsenal onto the shoulders of Barclaycard Premiership leaders Manchester United.

Van Bronckhorst made the breakthrough with his first goal for the club since his £8.5milliom move from Rangers in the summer.

Thierry Henry added a second to take his tally for the season to 24 butLeicester staged a rousing finish.

Muzzy Izzet pulled a goal back but the Gunners re-grouped with sub Sylvain Wiltord grabbing a third in stoppage time.

This vital victory takes them into second spot, a point behind United butwith a game in hand.

Van Bronckhorst was only recalled to the starting line up as Fredrik Ljungberg is suffering from knee and ankle injuries sustained at Leeds.

But he took his goal well in an Arsenal performance that tailed off in the second half.

Arsenal carved out the first chance of the game after two minutes when Ray Parlour picked out Henry. The French international cut inside only to send his shot nearer the corner flag than the goal.

Leicester, anxious to get off the foot of the table, responded immediately to get the home fans going. Stefan Oakes delivered a long high ball to the back post and Scowcroft managed to get in a header, only to see it clear the bar.

Arsenal were playing some nice football in the early stages and Parlour released Dennis Bergkamp but he snatched at it and found the crowd with his effort.

Parlour was seeing plenty of the ball and tried to send Henry away. However his pass was slightly over-hit and keeper Tim Flowers was able to gather safely.

Henry came within a whisker of giving Arsenal the lead after 15 minutes when he latched onto a ball from Robert Pires. He turned quickly but his shot went marginally wide.

Flowers did well to claw away Patrick Vieira's 20-yard free kick as thevisitors stepped up the pressure.

Leicester were being forced on the back foot and van Bronckhorst tried his luck from 25 yards, only to see his effort go wide.

Scowcroft then picked up the first yellow card of the night for a stiff challenge on the Dutch midfielder.

Leicester nearly paid dearly for that rash moment with Henry bending in a superb 35-yard free kick that went beyond Flowers but came back of the post.

Even the home fans felt obliged to applaud an outrageous piece of skill from the Frenchman.

Henry's pace then left Frank Sinclair in his slipstream but his finish was weak.

Arsenal made the breakthrough after 32 minutes following a sweeping move. Henry sent the ball out to Luzhny on the left and he delivered a cross quickly into penalty area. Van Bronckhorst got away from his marker to flick a header beyond the despairing Flowers.

Arsenal were playing some exhibition stuff and Pires went close with a shot from the edge of the area.

Leicester went further behind in the 42nd minute when Henry scored his 24th goal of the season.

Bergkamp began the move by picking out Vieira, who caught the ball with the back of his foot.

It spun away from Callum Davidson and Jacob Laursen leaving Henry a clear path to goal and he made no mistake.

Anxious Leicester manager Dave Bassett rang the changes at half time bringing on Matthew Jones, Ade Akinbiyi and Trevor Benjamin for Davidson, Stefan Oakes and Scowcroft.

Arsenal began the second half as they ended the first - in positive mood and in search of more goals.

Van Bronckhorst threaded the ball through to Ashley Cole but Flowers managed to get his body behind the shot.

Leicester hit back and in a rare attacking moment Izzet tested keeper Wright after Benjamin had nodded the ball back to him.

Arsenal looked threatening every time they moved forward and Pires released Bergkamp from a throw in.

Leicester were caught napping and he fed Vieira in the penalty area but his effort was blocked.

Leicester, however, got a lifeline in the 67th minute when they pulled a goal back through Izzet.

He rose above a crowd of defenders to send a header beyond Wright following a corner from Andy Impey.

Arsenal were grateful to keeper Wright in the 80th minute for maintaining their narrow lead.

He reacted instinctively to turn away a header from Elliott at the foot of the post following a free kick from Alan Rogers.

Wiltord grabbed a third goal in stoppage time with a magnificent effort from 25 yards after Pires had released him.

Arsenal carved out the first chance of the game after two minutes when Ray Parlour picked out 23-goal striker Thierry Henry.

The French international cut inside only to send his shot nearer the corner flag than the goal.

Leicester, anxious to get off the foot of the table, responded immediately to get the home fans going.

Stefan Oakes delivered a long high ball to the back post and Scowcroft managed to get in a header only to see it clear the crossbar.

Arsenal were playing some nice football in the early stages and Parlour released Dennis Bergkamp but he snatched at it and found the crowd with his effort.

Parlour was seeing plenty of the ball and tried to send Henry away. However, his pass was slightly over-hit and keeper Tim Flowers was able to gather safely.

Henry came within a whisker of giving Arsenal the lead after 15 minutes when he latched onto a ball from Robert Pires. He turned quickly but his shot went marginally wide.

Then Flowers did well to claw away Patrick Vieira's 20-yard free-kick as the visitors stepped up the pressure.

Teams:

Leicester: Flowers, Impey, Sinclair, Laursen, Elliott, Davidson (Jones 45), Savage, Rogers, Oakes (Benjamin 45), Izzet, Scowcroft (Akinbiyi 45).

Subs Not Used: Andrews, Stewart.

Booked: Scowcroft, Izzet.

Goals: Izzet 68.

Arsenal: Wright, Luzhny, Keown, Campbell, Cole, Parlour (Grimandi 79), Vieira, van Bronckhorst (Upson 90), Pires, Henry, Bergkamp (Wiltord 79).

Subs Not Used: Stack, Dixon.

Goals: van Bronckhorst 33, Henry 43, Wiltord 90.

Att: 21,344

Ref: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).