The English Premier League is widely considered the most exciting league in world football. Whilst Spaniards, Germans and Italians may consider that common belief a misconception, this was not a night to be making the argument. As the eighty three day off season concluded, football fans across the globe turned on their TV sets or, perhaps more accurately, laptops, and settled in for one of the cliffhangers of the season.
Team Sheets
As both teams starting elevens were released via social media, there was a veritable gasp in millions of Arsenal supporters living rooms. The back three read as follow; Rob Holding, Nacho Monreal & Sead Kolasinac. Oomph! Of the three, the only man to be playing in his traditional position was the inexperienced Holding. As Michael Caley put it, 'Welcome back football. I love how stupid you are.' In fact, further jaws dropped to the floor when reputed journalist Raphael Honigstein confirmed that Mertesacker was available for selection. Arsene Wenger also signalled that he had chosen to take one risk, playing Mesut Ozil, the German struggling with an ankle injury.
Match
Arsenal 1-0 '2 (Lacazette)
The players started at breakneck pace and the men wearing red were quickly rewarded. Tying for the quickest goal in Premier League history, the £48 million pound signing scored within the first 94 seconds of play. Xhaka received in the final third, lifted his gaze and switched the ball forward to the unmarked Bellerin with precision. Hector received on the edge of the box and made the backward, central pass to Elneny. Welbeck, standing in the centre of the eighteen yard box, takes the gaze of both Morgan and Maguire. Perpetual mover Lacazette, like a fly forever stirring around the canals of your fearing ears, ghosts behind the unaware Maguire. Elneny, highly regarded by many football analysts for his incisive passing, darts in the one touch ball. With a touch of the spectacular, the ball effortly thunders its way to the French men's cranium. Alexandre contorts his neck at just the right moment and thunders his effort past the sprawling Schmeichel! The new signing triumphantly lifts his arms, gleefully accepting the adulation of the crowd.
Leicester 1-1 '4 (Okazaki)
The raucous support had little time to enjoy the moment. From the moment the ball was placed in the net, Leicester were well on top. Arsenal target Riyad Mahrez, shot off a warning sign with a long range effort less than a minute after play began. Xhaka lost the ball in midfield as the 2015/16 champions harassed the deep lying playmaker, forcing a possession win in their attacking third. The Blues worked it into the area between touch line and eighteen yard, with Albrighton pulling it back and curling it with the right foot. Ozil was unable to apply pressure to the ball carrier, the first breakdown of defence from a Gunner perspective. Maguire and Mahrez were left unattended at the back post, Maguire sending his effort across goal. Both Bellerin and Kolasinac were perhaps most responsible, losing their preferred positional setup. Lacazette briefly gazed at Mahrez but never tracked the run. Maguire's looping header was knocked in from within the six yard box by Okazaki. Adam Thomas indicated prematch that this back three formation would prove to either by a wild success or destructive failure. It appeared obvious from this moment on that Arsenal would be playing with a significant achilles heel.
Leicester 2-1 '29 (Vardy)
The play broke down once again in the defensive third of the field, this time a passing exchange between Holding, Xhaka and Elneny resulting in the Egyptian gifting possession to the visitors. Whilst not utilising a consistent press, the Foxes were able to force the issue on numerous occasions periodically, bringing up memories of their championship winning season. Albrighton gathered the possession loss, paced forward and swung in a cross from the right hand side, 25 yards from goal. The cross was swept home by the gleeful Vardy, Jamie filling the gap between the ball gazing Monreal and the out positioned Kolasinac. The defensive frailties were clear and the poor passing execution through midfield was leaving them exposed.
Proceeding Period of play '30-'37
Arsenal suffered a large setback post that goal and were at significant risk of conceding another. Holding lost the ball on four occasions within that defensive third, Bellerin looking too often for the overlap and not presenting as a reliable passing option. This culminated with an opportunity for Okazaki, missing a header from directly in front, roughly 8 yards from goal.
Arsenal 2-2 '45 (Welbeck)
Parity was restored just as the players were readying themselves for the interval. The Gunners had established possessional dominance over the prior 8~ minutes, recording 71% possession for the match. Ozil played the short pass to Lacazette at the edge of the area. Much like a trademark play from his compatriot Giroud, Alexandre received with his back to goal. Morgan stood between the French men and goal, enforcing the former Lyon man to swivel and shoot. The ball slewed off the leg of the shot inhibiting Maguire and as fate would have it, into the path of the oncoming Kolasinac. The centre back had made a strong run in the area and had the presence of mind to centre the pass with Schmeichel launching toward him. Welbeck received, struggled to get the ball from out of his feet, but bulged the net with his second touch. Luck played a significant role in the goal and was much required for the home teams chances.
Half Time
The discussion at half time was led by Orbinho, who was first to mention Arsenal's dreadful opening day record, winning just one of those last seven fixtures. Colin Trainor poured cold water on all those faithful claiming three at the back helped Arsenal late last season, producing figures that showed their expected goals against actually increased, and against worse opposition. Rage continued around the back three choices and the Wenger Out activists began to voice their concern.
Leicester 3-2 '56 (Vardy)
And if that wasn't bad enough, the second half started in similar fashion to that of the middle ten minute period. The Foxes were pressing, forcing possession wins in their attacking third of the pitch. Cech saved a thunderous Mahrez strike from 20 yards and then the former Chelsea champion had to play sweeper keeper, practically saving a certain goal by getting the ball away in the nick of time from the advancing Vardy with a 35 yard dash. However, the goal duly arrived. Mahrez took an inswing corner, the most efficient type of corner as City analysts have revealed, and the man who partied throughout 15/16 got on the end of it. Whilst Arsenal played a zonal marking system, the lack of desire to get head to ball was clear. No one appeared to notice Vardy's unmarked run to the edge of the box. No one even raised the slightest of arm or leg to halt his movement. There was no man standing at the post and the Gunners got what they deserved. Jamie arrived at the scene and nonchalantly knocked away a basic glancing header from within the six yard area. In fact all three Leicester goals came from within the six yard area.
The Subs '67
If we thought the back three were weird, it was about to really send you down the rabbit hole. Giroud on for Elneny. Basic enough, Lacazette switching to the left flank and OG taking the primary role through the middle. However, Ramsey on for Holding was a system changer. Arsenal went from a back three to four, playing Ox-Kolasinac-Monreal-Bellerin. Amy Lawrence perhaps best summed it up, ' It was an extraordinary combination – a midfield player at right-back, two left-backs at centre-back and a right-back at left-back.' Extraordinary is by far and away the most apt word. The only saving grace in this impending debacle, was how poor the Arsenal defence had functioned during the first 66 minutes of play. Could it really get any worse?
Theo Walcott also come onto the field for Welbeck at the 75 minute mark.
Arsenal 3-3 '83 (Ramsey)
The substitutes had an impact within sheer seconds, Ramsey throwing his cranium to the Lacazette cross. The effort bounced just wide, but it was a sign of things to come from the Wembley hero. Ramsey played a defence splitting pass, picking out the run of Giroud as the French men broke the Leicester offside trap. He settled on the ball within the six yard box and slid a pass back to his striking compatriot. Alexandre received, attempted to squirm past a couple to no avail, before settling on the swerving close range effort that was tipped over by Schmeichel. Arsenal were battering the opponent and it appeared only a matter of time. Xhaka gained a loose ball 30 yards from goal as Leicester failed to properly clear their lines. Granit executed a pass with the outside of the right boot, spinning his effort into the path of Ramsey. 'Welsh Jesus' as he is commonly known amongst the faithful, had his path shepherded by Walcott, allowing him just enough time to settle and hammer home the volley from 12 yards. Three Gunners were cued up at that far post, perhaps suggesting that the Foxes were beginning to tire, mentally as much as anything else.
Arsenal 4-3 '85 (Giroud)
This was perhaps the most sublime finish of the lot. Xhaka takes the corner, an inswinger no less. 13 players stand and battle inside the eighteen yard area. The cross is hit to the battle of Giroud and Maguire, perhaps the strongest two players on the field. Vision from behind the goal quite clearly shows Giroud has his shirt pulled away from his body by Maguire. Olivier manages to stand his ground as the Foxes new centre half goes to ground. OG is met in the air by the equally desperate Morgan. The French men gets his head to the ball, contorting all neck muscles with as much ferocity as he can muster. The oft maligned striker watches as his header comes thundering off the upright and past the line. The stadium is sent into pandemonium, 60,000 people singing Olivier's name as he scores his 50th Arsenal goal at the Emirates (and 99th of his career).
Full Time Arsenal 4 Leicester 3
The endless media commitments soon followed. Wenger confirmed that Giroud was given the opportunity to leave before deciding that he was determined to stick it out at the Gunners. Arseblog complained about his heart. Caley produced his infographic on expected goals, suggesting that his numbers indicated Arsenal held a one goal advantage. Leicester only recorded three shots on target for the entirety of the contest, however all three occurred within the six yard area. InfoGol noted that OG's goal had only a 10% chance of being scored. Orbinho was back at it again, telling his audience that Arsenal conceded just three goals from headers for the entire Premier League season, and have already conceded two within one night. He also shone light on Arsenal's recent high variance with goals scored from headers, with AFC recording the most ever last season and two tonight. Giroud laid homage to that fact, sending himself to 12th on the all time Premier League list for headed goals. Goal Impact & Martin Rafelt again acknowledged that Theo Walcott is potentially undervalued considering how strong his non-penalty goals and assists per 90 are.
Thanks for taking time out of your day to pour through these words! I would love to know what you thought of the game. Let me know in the comments below!
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