Olivier Giroud was Arsenal’s hero as they mounted a remarkable comeback to secure a 4-3 win over Leicester at the Emirates as the Premier League came back with a bang.
Arsene Wenger’s side had won just one of their last six Premier League openers before tonight, and seemed certain for more disappointment despite record signing Alexandre Lacazette handing them a perfect start to the new campaign.
However, a Shinji Okazaki strike and Jamie Vardy’s brace had Arsenal facing another opening-day defeat with 10 minutes left on the clock.
Danny Welbeck had brought Arsenal level at 2-2, and they were once more saved as substitute Aaron Ramsey poked home eight minutes from time. Then Giroud, so often Arsenal’s super sub last season, saved Wenger’s blushes again with a brilliant header moments later.
Though Mesut Ozil returned from an ankle injury to supplement the Arsenal attack, it was the back line that caused the most eyebrows to be raised ahead of kick-off.
Two left-backs - Nacho Monreal and debutant Sead Kolasinac - were paired with Rob Holding, a 21-year-old with nine Premier League starts to his name. Shkodran Mustafi was left on the bench. The gamble would soon backfire.
Not before Lacazette had opened his account in impressive fashion though. After only 93 seconds, his movement in the area proved too much for Wes Morgan as the £52.7million man ghosted behind the veteran centre-back with delicate, stuttering running before whipping a header home.
Arsenal seemed all too pleased with themselves, switching off just as Leicester upped the intensity. Nowhere was that more evident than a fifth minute corner taken short by Marc Albrighton.
No-one picked up the hulking frame of Harry Maguire at the back post as he flicked a header across goal for Shinji Okazaki to equalise.
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The goal allowed Leicester to return to their pre-match plan, sitting deep and hitting their hosts on the counter. Granit Xhaka and Mohamed Elneny did the hosts no favours with looping, sideways passes that offered no impetus to the attack and gave the Foxes chances to steal possession.
The midfield duo paid the price for their ponderous nature in possession when Xhaka, sold short by Elneny, put the ball into the Arsenal right. It came straight into the path of Albrighton. With the all-too-cavalier Hector Bellerin unable to make up the ground, the winger was able to deliver a perfect cross for Jamie Vardy to tap home with Petr Cech stranded.
When mental fortitude was required Arsenal seemed to retreat into their shells, such that a Christian Fuchs long throw prompted such terror that Cech had to palm it over.
But Arsenal were handed a lifeline just before the half, with Lacazette once more playing a crucial role. His swivel shot from the edge of the area deflected off a Leicester body and into the path of Kolasinac, who had the presence of mind to square for Welbeck to tap into an empty net.
Arsenal just don’t learn though and the second half was no better. Over-elaborate play on the edge of the area gave Riyad Mahrez a chance to fire a dangerous shot at goal. From the resulting corner Xhaka failed to track Vardy, who beat Cech to the ball and headed home.
The Gunners swarmed forward yet again. Bellerin forced a close-range save out of Schmeichel. They switched to a back four that had two centre-backs at its heart and Oxlade-Chamberlain at right back.
Leicester’s rearguard was brave but breached on 82 minutes as Xhaka earned a degree of redemption with a gorgeous punted pass for Ramsey to take down and volley home.
Suddenly Arsenal’s menace was back and they were in the lead seconds later. Lacazette’s drive had been tipped over for a corner, where Giroud outjumped Morgan to head home via the crossbar.
Arsenal could have had more, Schmeichel very nearly finding himself caught off his goal-line, but after such a woeful defensive display could count their lucky stars to have somehow postponed the early season mutiny that had been brewing in the Emirates.