Arsenal 4 Leicester 3 as it happened: Goals galore on breathless opening night of the Premier League season
Follow all the live action from the opening fixture of the Premier League
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Your support makes all the difference.Opening day is always tense in the Premier League - and this will be no exception. Arsenal have only managed to win one league opener since 2011, and following a disappointing finish last season, Wenger will be hoping to dim early calls for his resignation by starting with a win.
Without Champions League football and with the Arsenal manager admitting the Europa League will play second fiddle to the Premier League, anything but a top-four finish will be inexcusable for Arsenal this season, so picking up the full three points will be vital.
On the other hand, Leicester will be hoping to build off their strong end to last season by putting in a solid performance against a tough opponent. A draw wouldn’t be too disappointing for them, especially against a top six club, but no doubt they will have their eyes on a top-half finish this season.
Manager Craig Shakespeare has already outlined his ambitions for the season, saying that just hitting the 40 point margin isn’t enough and that Leicester “have to aim higher.” So a win against Arsenal will be in the back of all the Leicester player’s minds.
The league opener will also be a big test for Leicester strikers Jamie Vardy and Shinji Okazaki. With new signing Ihenacho likely to be on the bench after picking up a knock, and Islam Slimani not fully fit, Vardy and Okazaki will be vying to show their manager why they should spearhead Leicester’s campaign this season.
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What time does it start and where can I watch it?
Arsenal and Leicester kick off the 2017/18 Premier League season at 19:45 on Friday 11 August. You can watch the match on Sky Sports from 19:00 or catch the highlights on BBC One’s Match of the Day this Saturday at 22:30.
It’s a big game for…
Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare. It’s his first competitive game in charge since taking over full time in June and with key defenders Robert Huth and West Morgan both injured, as well as star striker Kelechi Iheanacho both not match fit, Shakespeare will have some big decisions to make when rotating his squad.
Best stat…
1: The number of games Arsenal have won on opening day since 2010.
Remember when…
Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez went in the book after receiving a throw in to the face from Leicester’s Christian Fuchs.
Player to watch…
Arsenal’s club-record signing Alexandre Lacazette will be the one to watch. The Frenchman, who bagged 28 for Lyon last season, will be hoping to make his first Premier League start on Friday. The £52m striker showed promise on Sunday in the Community Shield where he saw his shot ricochet off the post. He will no doubt be hoping to build on that this Friday.
Past three-meetings…
Arsenal 1 (Huth OG) Leicester 0, Premier League, April 2016
Arsenal 0 Leicester 0, Premier League, February 2016
Arsenal 2 (Walcott, Welbeck) Leicester 1 (Vardy), Premier League, February 2016
Form guide…
Arsenal: WWWWWW
Leicester: LWWLLD
Odds…
Arsenal to win: 21/50
Leicester to win:19/5
Draw: 6/1
(Odds provided by 888 Sport)
37 mins: Who would you rather run into at full pelt, Wes Morgan or Harry Maguire? It's making me wince to even think about it but Alexandre Lacazette may have an answer for you at half-time.
40 mins: Arsenal, players and fans alike, are growing frustrated as the the Foxes drop more and more men behind the ball. Failing to find any penetration with passes or crosses, the home side opt for a couple of long shots but those too are blocked at close quarters.
42 mins: Loud appeals for an Arsenal penalty, but most of the noise is being made by Mohamed Elneny. The midfielder is irate when Wilfred Ndidi's arm blocks an attempted lobbed cross from Kolasinac but the Nigerian was so tight to his opponent that they were no way he could have avoided making contact. For once, Mike Dean does the sensible thing and instead awards a corner.
45 mins: Two minutes of stoppage time are indicated by the fourth official. Arsenal have had all the possession. They have made all the passes. But they are about to go in at the break a goal behind on the opening night of the Premier League season.
45+2 mins: GOAL! ARSENAL 2 LEICESTER 2:
Or are they?! Danny Welbeck has the ball in the back of the net and despite Leicester claims for offside, the goal is going to count! Mesut Ozil moved a pass into Alexandre Lacazette, tightly marked inside the area, and the Frenchman somehow managed to squeeze it beyond his opponents. That left Sead Kolasinac alone and through on Kasper Schmeichel's goal but instead of shooting, he opted to square the ball to Welbeck. The flag stayed down and the England striker calmly planted his effort down the middle and into the back of the net. It will be all-square at the interval!
It's probably best that nobody at the club reads the responses to this one...
...or maybe they should.
SECOND HALF KICK-OFF: We're back underway on this opening Friday night of the Premier League season. The teams may change, new players may come and go but football law remains the same and dictates that when there are four goals or more scored in the first half, there shall be none in the second. Arsenal, Leicester, prove me wrong.
49 mins: Mesut Ozil is not known for his long-range thunderbolts - and it's easy to see why. The German international tees himself up outside the box but with space to shoot into, he whips a meagre effort well wide of the near post.
52 mins: Brilliant tackle by Petr Cech? Or a moment of madness that the goalkeeper ultimately got away with? A wonderful raking pass from Mahrez sent Jamie Vardy into space, but the striker still found himself some 40 yards from goal. Before he could even contend with getting the loose ball under control, however, there was Cech, a long way from home. Launching himself at the bouncing ball, Cech got his tackle spot on, diverting the danger out for a throw. Had he failed to make contact, Vardy would have been presented with an unguarded net.
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