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

Danny Welbeck scored on the stroke of half-time to draw Arsenal level (Getty Images)

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.

Follow all the live action below...

Please allow a moment for the blog to load.

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.

Iheanacho is expected to miss out due to injury (Getty)

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.

Alexandre Lacazette is Arsenal's big-name summer signing (Getty)

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)

[11 August 2017 21:30 · Sam Dymond]

87 mins: Bear with me while I just go back and delete all the posts about Arsene Wenger's baffling substitutions...

[11 August 2017 21:36 · Sam Dymond]

90 mins: Arsenal are not home and dry just yet and there will be five minutes of additional time to be played. In truth, however, Leicester look beaten and if there's to be another goal, it will surely be a fifth for the hosts. Giroud and Lacazette go close before the offside flag stops a third substitute - Theo Walcott - in his tracks.

[11 August 2017 21:39 · Sam Dymond]

90+4 mins: As Wes Morgan is shown the first yellow card of the night, television replays show a clear Mesut Ozil handball in the build-up to Arsenal's equaliser. Let the season of complaints and demands for video officiating commence!

[11 August 2017 21:39 · Sam Dymond]

FULL TIME - ARSENAL 4 LEICESTER 3:

[11 August 2017 22:00 · Sam Dymond]

Perhaps late drama was always on the cards tonight..

.

[11 August 2017 22:08 · Sam Dymond]

Woof! What a start! The Premier League has been wowing football fans for quarter of a century, and all we love about the competition was epitomised on an extraordinary opening night in North London. Excitement. Drama. Controversy. Calamity. And, of course, goals. Arsenal's match with Leicester City had it all this evening and has surely set the benchmark for the rest to follow. There will be much more to come so strap yourselves in, 2017/18 may just be the best Premier League season yet.