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.

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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.

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 19:50 · Sam Dymond]

5 mins: GOAL! ARSENAL 1 LEICESTER 1:

Shinji Okazaki equalises and - weirdly - it had been coming! The Foxes had responded brilliantly after falling behind so quickly and Mahrez nearly brought them level with an instinctive volley from 15 yards straight from kick-off. However, if the Arsenal defence looked all at sea then, it was nothing compared to their different when a long throw was launched into the box shortly afterwards. With Cech struggling and his centre-halves nowhere to be seen, Maguire headed back at the far post and Okazaki nodded home. Stunned silence at the Emirates.

[11 August 2017 19:54 · Sam Dymond]

8 mins: They may have brought in nearly £50m worth of attacking talent, but Arsenal still look a shambles at the back. What is George Graham up to these days?

[11 August 2017 20:02 · Sam Dymond]

12 mins: It was the dream start for Arsenal, but it's quickly turning into a nightmare for the London side - especially in defence. "They look very nervous those three at the back," observes Jamie Carragher on commentary as Rob Holding fouls James in a dangerous looking area. The defender along with Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac would be advised to get in the game sooner rather than later.

[11 August 2017 20:03 · Sam Dymond]

A surprise move to Barcelona in five years time beckons for Alexandre Lacazette.

[11 August 2017 20:08 · Sam Dymond]

20 mins: Man-mountain Harry Maguire is given a lengthy talking to from Mike Dean after ploughing into Lacazette in full flight. Welcome to the Premier League, Alexandre.

[11 August 2017 20:10 · Sam Dymond]

22 mins: Chance! Danny Welbeck must have thought he was about to restore Arsenal's advantage after some crisp one-touch football outside the Leicester box had sent Mesut Ozil to the touchline. The German's pull-back was perfect for the forward, but Welbeck's first-time shot found the midriff of Maguire rather than the back of the net.

[11 August 2017 20:12 · Sam Dymond]

Easy, isn't it?

[11 August 2017 20:14 · Sam Dymond]

26 mins: Arsenal have taken it up a gear at the Emirates! Close passing, quick and slick, once again had Welbeck in with a sight of goal, but this time the forward failed to get an immediate shot away. 

Moments later, a one-two with Ozil's head allowed Kolasinac the opportunity to volley from the edge of the box, but Schmeichel denied the former-Schalke man a debut goal.

[11 August 2017 20:15 · Sam Dymond]

29 mins: GOAL! ARSENAL 1 LEICESTER 2:

Leicester have turned it around! It may have been Arsenal's best spell of the game, but they continued to look fragile in defence and Jamie Vardy has taken full advantage. The visitors were quick to repel another Arsenal attack, moving the ball to Marc Albrighton on the left. The winger had plenty of space to run forward into, and his subsequent cross was perfect in taking Nacho Monreal and Kolasinac out of the game. Arriving inside the six-yard box was Vardy - a one-time Arsenal target - to bury the ball into the roof of the net with his side-foot.

[11 August 2017 20:22 · Sam Dymond]

33 mins: Leicester could have added a third. Indeed, had Christian Fuchs' cross matched the accuracy of Albrighton's minutes earlier than Okazaki surely would have been celebrating his second of the night. As it was, the striker's ten-yard header sailed tamely wide.