The Emirates Stadium hosts the Premier League opener this season on Friday and David John has two selections.
Recommended bets: Arsenal v Leicester
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Arsenal v Leicester (1945 BST, Sky Sports Main Event, Premier League)
There was quite a lot to be impressed with last weekend from Arsenal’s victory over Chelsea in the Community Shield - not just their much better nerve and technique when it came to the ABBA penalty shootout.
Let’s work backwards slightly and for a start, away from the football, I liked the collective celebration at the end that included players not involved in the match and genuinely suggests this is a team which retains plenty of spirit and togetherness heading into the new campaign.
Arsene Wenger’s ‘will he-won’t he’ departure saga has been put to bed for the time being and Arsenal look ready to move on and give their all for the Frenchman in a bid to finally win a domestic title - the talent on the field is more than good enough to deliver.
Class and technical ability tends to take a bit of back seat to fitness at this time of the year but there was a lot to like from Granit Xhaka (less 'hatchet man' and far more refined at Wembley), Danny Welbeck, Alex Iwobi plus new man Sead Kolasinac as the Gunners attempt to avoid an opening-day defeat for the third season on the spin.
They won’t be full at strength though at the Emirates with Mesut Ozil out with an ankle injury while any time remaining at the club for Alexis Sanchez ahead of a possible move has been restricted by an abdominal issue which will sideline him for around a fortnight.
His absence will mean more immediate focus on £50m summer signing Alexandre Lacazette, who showed some deft touches against Chelsea and watched a curling effort from 15 yards come back off the post.
He scored for fun last season in France’s Ligue 1 but has so much more to his game and will be a key component in Arsenal’s swift attacking thrusts once he fully settles in with his new employers.
There will be a lot of weekend coupons sunk if the home side don’t deliver at 1/2 but there have been plenty of bullish noises coming out of a revamped Leicester City camp following an arduous six-week pre-season under Craig Shakespeare.
"Everyone is raring to go and we can’t wait to get started," said captain Wes Morgan, who is over a back issue that troubled him towards the end of last season and will line-up in the heart of defence with hugely promising new arrival Harry Maguire.
There is a new-look strike partnership as well following Kelechi Iheanacho’s £25m arrival from Manchester City to play alongside Jamie Vardy and the pair have already combined nicely for a goal against Borussia Monchengladbach before Iheanacho went off with an ankle knock, although it is likely he will be fit to start here.
This is a chance at last for Leicester to enjoy a normal season. I am coming around to Shakespeare’s full-time appointment while there are no silly distractions of going for or defending a Premier League title to deal with.
The owners have come up with money to boost the squad with former Sevilla captain Vicente Iborra drafted in (misses out here) while Riyad Mahrez is reported to be fully focused and will always be a prime asset while he sticks around for the time being.
So I have whittled a cracking Premier League opener down to two from three possible selections.
Both teams to score is rejected at odds-on in favour of the hosts winning with both teams on the scoresheet and while some uncertainty remains within the Gunners’ back four, Wilfred Ndidi could be worth a speculator in the anytime goalscorer betting.
The Nigerian got better and better for the Foxes as last season progressed following his January arrival from Genk and he looked as sharp as any player on the pitch last weekend against Monchengladbach.
He unleashed a smart volley that was well saved while his willingness to shoot from distance makes him a threat to beat Petr Cech in a fixture which the home side are ultimately fancied to edge.
Verdict: Arsenal 2-1 Leicester (Scoreline odds with Sky Bet: 15/2)
Opta facts:
Leicester are on a 21-game winless run against Arsenal in the Premier League (D7 L14), with their only win against the Gunners coming in their first ever Premier League encounter in November 1994 (a 2-1 victory).
Arsenal have won each of their last 10 Premier League home encounters with Leicester City; their joint longest winning streak at home against a single opponent.
Jamie Vardy has scored Leicester City's last three goals against Arsenal in the Premier League, scoring the opening goal twice. However, he is yet to end up on the winning side.
The Gunners have won only one of their last seven opening day Premier League fixtures, losing three of the last four (W1 D3 L3).
Arsenal haven't lost three consecutive opening day fixtures since 1960.
Leicester have won just one of their last eight Premier League games to start the season (4-2 over Sunderland in 2015, D4 L3).
Arsenal have never lost a Premier League game contested on a Friday (W6 D1) while Leicester have never won one on this weekday (D1 L2).
Alexandre Lacazette scored 91 goals in the French Ligue 1 over the last four seasons; more than any other player in the competition in that period. o Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez was the only player to reach double figures for both goals (24) and assists (10) in the Premier League last season.
Posted at 1200 BST on 10/08/17.
