Arsenal v Leicester City, 11 August 2017

Score4-3 to Arsenal
RefereeMike Dean
CompetitionPremier League
VenueEmirates Stadium
Attendance59,387

View Arsenal v Leicester City head to head

Kick-off: 7.45pm In its 129-year history, this was the first time that the top division in England started its season with a game played on a Friday. Arsenal had now won their last 11 home games in the Premier League against Leicester City; their longest such against any opposition.

4 Arsenal

3 Leicester City

Goals:

Alexandre Lacazette 2 G
Danny Welbeck 45 G
Aaron Ramsey 83 G
Olivier Giroud 85 G

Goals:

Shinji Okazaki 5 G
Jamie Vardy 29 G
Jamie Vardy 59 G

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Petr Čech
Defender Héctor Bellerín
Defender Rob Holding
Defender Nacho Monreal
Defender/Midfielder Sead Kolašinac
Defender/Midfielder Granit Xhaka
Midfielder Mohamed El Neny
Midfielder Mesut Özil
Midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Forward Alexandre Lacazette
Forward Danny Welbeck

Starting lineup:

Kasper Schmeichel Goalkeeper
Danny Simpson Defender/Right back
Christian Fuchs Defender
Harry Maguire Defender
Wes Morgan Defender
Marc Albrighton Defender/Midfielder
Matty James Defender/Midfielder
Wilfred Ndidi Defender/Midfielder
Riyad Mahrez Midfielder/Forward
Shinji Okazaki Forward
Jamie Vardy Forward

Substitutions:

Olivier Giroud for Rob Holding 67
Aaron Ramsey for Mohamed El Neny 67
Theo Walcott for Danny Welbeck 75

Substitutions:

Daniel Amartey for Shinji Okazaki 72
Kelechi Iheanacho for Matty James 82
Demarai Gray for Marc Albrighton 88

Cards:

Cards:

Wes Morgan 90 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper David Ospina
Defender Shkodran Mustafi
Midfielder Francis Coquelin
Midfielder Aaron Ramsey
Midfielder/Forward Alex Iwobi
Midfielder/Forward Theo Walcott
Forward Olivier Giroud

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Ben Hamer
Defender Ben Chilwell
Defender/Midfielder Daniel Amartey
Midfielder Andy King
Midfielder/Forward Demarai Gray
Forward Kelechi Iheanacho
Forward Islam Slimani

Comments:

Arsenal avoided losing their opening game of a league campaign for a third season in a row for the first time since 1960. The Gunners had now won seven of the eight Premier League games they had played on a Friday (drawn one). Olivier Giroud's winner was the 50th goal he had scored for Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in all competitions. Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger said: "We know defensively we can do better but overall we produced a top-quality game. I'm convinced that overall this kind of game can strengthen the belief. When you're in difficult situations you're reminded you've done it before so can do it again."

Comments:

This was the second season in a row that Leicester City had played in the first game of a Premier League season. In 2016-17, they lost 2-1 at Hull City in a Saturday lunchtime kick-off. Leicester City remained without an away win in their opening game of a top division season since 1933 when the won 3-2 at Aston Villa in League Division One. Jamie Vardy had now scored five goals in his last five Premier League appearances against Arsenal. Leicester City manager Craig Shakespeare said: "We're disappointed to score three and come away with a defeat. When teams make substitutes just before corners it's confusing. I'm disappointed with the handball (by Mesut Ozil) in the build up, but once the corner's given you have to defend it better. I don't know whether it was lack of concentration or game management."

4 Arsenal

Goals:

Alexandre Lacazette 2 G
Danny Welbeck 45 G
Aaron Ramsey 83 G
Olivier Giroud 85 G

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Petr Čech
Defender Héctor Bellerín
Defender Rob Holding
Defender Nacho Monreal
Defender/Midfielder Sead Kolašinac
Defender/Midfielder Granit Xhaka
Midfielder Mohamed El Neny
Midfielder Mesut Özil
Midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Forward Alexandre Lacazette
Forward Danny Welbeck

Substitutions:

Olivier Giroud for Rob Holding 67
Aaron Ramsey for Mohamed El Neny 67
Theo Walcott for Danny Welbeck 75

Cards:

On the bench:

Goalkeeper David Ospina
Defender Shkodran Mustafi
Midfielder Francis Coquelin
Midfielder Aaron Ramsey
Midfielder/Forward Alex Iwobi
Midfielder/Forward Theo Walcott
Forward Olivier Giroud

Comments:

Arsenal avoided losing their opening game of a league campaign for a third season in a row for the first time since 1960. The Gunners had now won seven of the eight Premier League games they had played on a Friday (drawn one). Olivier Giroud's winner was the 50th goal he had scored for Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in all competitions. Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger said: "We know defensively we can do better but overall we produced a top-quality game. I'm convinced that overall this kind of game can strengthen the belief. When you're in difficult situations you're reminded you've done it before so can do it again."

3 Leicester City

Goals:

Shinji Okazaki 5 G
Jamie Vardy 29 G
Jamie Vardy 59 G

Starting lineup:

Kasper Schmeichel Goalkeeper
Danny Simpson Defender/Right back
Christian Fuchs Defender
Harry Maguire Defender
Wes Morgan Defender
Marc Albrighton Defender/Midfielder
Matty James Defender/Midfielder
Wilfred Ndidi Defender/Midfielder
Riyad Mahrez Midfielder/Forward
Shinji Okazaki Forward
Jamie Vardy Forward

Substitutions:

Daniel Amartey for Shinji Okazaki 72
Kelechi Iheanacho for Matty James 82
Demarai Gray for Marc Albrighton 88

Cards:

Wes Morgan 90 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Ben Hamer
Defender Ben Chilwell
Defender/Midfielder Daniel Amartey
Midfielder Andy King
Midfielder/Forward Demarai Gray
Forward Kelechi Iheanacho
Forward Islam Slimani

Comments:

This was the second season in a row that Leicester City had played in the first game of a Premier League season. In 2016-17, they lost 2-1 at Hull City in a Saturday lunchtime kick-off. Leicester City remained without an away win in their opening game of a top division season since 1933 when the won 3-2 at Aston Villa in League Division One. Jamie Vardy had now scored five goals in his last five Premier League appearances against Arsenal. Leicester City manager Craig Shakespeare said: "We're disappointed to score three and come away with a defeat. When teams make substitutes just before corners it's confusing. I'm disappointed with the handball (by Mesut Ozil) in the build up, but once the corner's given you have to defend it better. I don't know whether it was lack of concentration or game management."