The 2017/18 Premier League season got off to a thunderous start at the Emirates on Friday night, with Arsenal coming back to win 4-3 against Leicester in a cracking game.
The Gunners got off to the perfect start, with record-signing Alexandre Lacazette scoring after just 94 seconds, via his his first-ever shot in the Premier League. The goal came after the Frenchman deftly headed home a Mohamed Elneny centre.
However, Arsenal’s makeshift back three of Sead Kolasinac, Nacho Monreal and Rob Holding failed to stop Shinji Okazaki equalising just two minutes later.
Despite having the lion’s share of possession, the hosts found themselves 2-1 down just before the half-hour mark, with a misplaced Granit Xhaka pass allowing Marc Albrighton to set up Jamie Vardy, who slid the cross home.
The mood around the Emirates once again started to go sour, as the home fans witnessed some trademark feeble defending.
However, there was still one more goal to come in a pulsating first-half, with Danny Welbeck netting from close-range after good play from Kolasinac.
After the break, the groans returned to the Emirates when the Foxes took the lead once again, this time when Vardy nodded in a Riyad Mahrez corner after more weak defending.
Arsene Wenger would respond by sending on by sending on Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey, and that proved to be an inspired decision.
Now with a bizarre back four of (from right to left) Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Monreal, Kolasinac and Hector Bellerin, Arsenal pushed for an equaliser, and on 83 minutes it came.
Ramsey was the scorer, courtesy of a superb finish after an even better pass from Xhaka. However, a handball from Mesut Ozil in the build-up to the goal was missed by Mike Dean and his officials, something which is sure to frustrate the visitors.
Two minutes later,the comeback was complete, with super-sub Giroud sending the home fans wild via magnificent header from a Xhaka corner, despite being held by Wes Morgan.
Arsenal would hold on to secure an incredible victory in a magnificently entertaining season opener.
With the likes of Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi still to come back, Wenger will no doubt be hoping his side will tighten up at the back as the season progresses, while the return of Alexis Sanchez (if he stays) will obviously strengthen the Gunners’ attack.
However, the lack of organisation at the back coupled with far too many errors on display on Friday night will worry the Arsenal boss, as well as the club’s world-weary fans.
Leicester, on the other hand, can count themselves unlucky to come away from north London with nothing after a clever, vibrant display which bodes well for their season.