Arsenal’s 4-3 win over Leicester during their Premier League opener on Friday night was like watching an entire season sped up.
Arsenal started strong, scoring within minutes through new boy Alexandre Lacazette, before being penned back by Leicester, who then left the Gunners in the dust as they went ahead through Shinji Okazaki and then Jamie Vardy.
Danny Welbeck put the scoreline to 2-2 just before half-time but it didn’t take long before Vardy scored his second after the break.
Just like it was April and the Gunners remembered they were fighting for a place in the top four, Arsenal then staged a plucky comeback, scoring twice and going ahead through subs Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud within minutes of each other.
The chaotic match, which included playing six players out of position at one stage, would have been fantastic for the neutral. Not so much for Arsenal fans.
It was a roller coaster all right… but what did we learn?
Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey need to be protected at all costs
How many times have Big Sexy and Rambo bailed Arsenal out?
Too many to count.
The France international and midfielder came on after the 60th minute and won Arsenal the game with the third and fourth goal.
Fantastic subs from Arsene Wenger.
The fact that Giroud’s position at the club is even up for debate is ridiculous.
Alexandre Lacazette is good… very good
Lacazette silenced his critics with his performance against the Foxes.
Not only did he score his first Premier League goal within minutes, he continued to look sharp and engaged throughout the match.
The 26-year-old consistently got into the right positions and his work rate was fantastic.
Change formation
The 3-4-3 formation has served Arsenal well since Arsene Wenger debuted it against Middlesbrough last season but it was always a work in progress and it appears that progress has halted.
Hector Bellerin in particular seems to be having a hard time adapting to the right-wing-back role and against Leicester this hurt us.
The 22-year-old doesn’t look as if he knows when to get forward and when to defender, which left a young, inexperienced Rob Holding exposed and vulnerable.
Perhaps it’s not the formation, perhaps it was just a bad night for everyone seeing as Mohamed Elneny and Granit Xhaka weren’t great either, but something needs to be changed.
Sead Kolasinac is still a beast
Another game, another excellent performance.
The former Schalke left-back bagged himself an assist against Leicester and once again impressed Gooners.
Getting him on a free was a stroke of genius.
Arsenal don’t lose on Friday nights
Arsenal have never lost a Premier League game contested on a Friday (W7 D1) while Leicester have never won one on this weekday (D1 L3).
— Orbinho (@Orbinho) August 11, 2017
Granted, it’s pretty unusual to be playing a season opener on a Friday night but apparently it’s one of the Gunners’ strongest days of the week.
Arsenal have won seven and drawn once.
I mean, we tried our best to tarnish this record but apparently the Football Gods had other plans.