London, Feb 15 (IANS): Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has praised the "mental desire" of his side who rallied back from being a goal down to snatch a late 2-1 triumph over English Premier League leaders Leicester City.

With Sunday's win, Arsenal (51 points from 26 matches) are now just two points adrift of Leicester and are third on the points table.

In the game it was striker Jamie Vardy who put the "Foxes" ahead just before halftime through a penalty conversion. The hosts then capitalised on Danny Simpson's red card as Theo Walcott volleyed in the equaliser. In the 95th minute Danny Welbeck headed in the winner on his return from injury.

"It was a mental test for us," Wenger was quoted as saying by the Premier League's website on Sunday.

"To find yourself down 1-0 at half-time against a team that defend so well, you have to keep going in your head. We came back in the second half with relentless energy.”

"We took all the risks to win it. We knew a draw was not good enough and we had to win it. In the end it paid off, down to the mental desire of the team to give absolutely everything to win it," he added.