What a way to start things off. 

Seven goals, a hatful of chances, shambolic defending and beautiful attacking play. Arsenal are back. 






Upon seeing the teamsheet before the game though, we should have heeded the warning.

Rob Holding, Nacho Monreal and new boy Sead Kolasinac were our back three, and the lack of chemistry was evident, especially when passes were played in between them for the voracious Jamie Vardy to run onto.


Lacazette made his mark first though, his quick reaction was a superb header into the bottom corner from Elneny.


Minutes later though, Leicester drew level. A short corner was eventually played in and Harry Maguire headed the ball back in from the byline. The loose ball was headed in from close range by Okazaki with Petr Cech floundering.

Cech was all at sea and our defence were deliberating who should go with Vardy’s runs. It was painful to watch at times, but our attack was the antithesis of the mess at the back. 

Twenty nine minutes in, the Foxes were a goal up. A wide ball across goal and Vardy had stolen a yard and finished from close in. 


Our defence should never have let it happen.


Just before halftime though, we had a lifeline. Alexandre Lacazette showed incredible strength to keep possession, and the ball squirmed through to Sead Kolasinac. The Bosnian tank had enough composure to square the ball to Welbeck and he finished calmly.


An excellent time to score and at half time we drew our breath. 2-2.


Eleven minutes and it was joy for Leicester – and Vardy – when they scored again. A corner was fizzed in and Vardy again ghosted past our players to flick in a near-post header. Cech coming out for absolutely nothing, Xhaka guilty of ball watching as Vardy whizzed past him.


With Leicester a goal up and the pressure building on the pitch but no score, Wenger changed things up at his signature time – the 67th minute – with Ramsey and Giroud coming on for Elneny and the beleaguered Holding. It changed our setup, with our team opting for a 4-2-3-1 with Giroud up top and Lacazette out wide.


The Foxes were clawing for purchase as we cranked up the pressure and they held out until the 83rd minute. A great Xhaka pass found Ramsey at the back, and his first touch was artistry. It fell in the perfect place to lash home. 


His fellow sub Giroud will grab the headlines though. His header was the epitome of strength, firstly to hold off Maguire and then the way he arced his neck to put strength on the ball so it went in off the woodwork. Wonderful stuff.


The game petered out after such ridiculous pace, and we grabbed the points. There is much to be done though.


Would a better side see out the game 3-2 up at The Emirates? Can we count ourselves lucky that is was Leicester? Our defence will get stronger obviously. Our three first choice defenders were out of the game and this match would have been markedly different had Mertesacker been playing. Holding would have missed his experience too. 


Cech needs to shape up too, as well as Xhaka who needs to move the ball quicker at times. 


We also need to remember though, that it is the first game of the season. We will improve, but we got the points, which is what matters. 


Let us enjoy the fact the Premiership is back. 


And maybe take a breath. Phew. 

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