The much-awaited Premier League season served a real classic as Arsenal mounted a comeback to beat Leicester City 4-3 at Emirates.
The Premier League season is here, and it’s back with a bang. It was goals galore as Arsenal hosted Leicester City at the Emirates for the opening game. The Gunners came back from behind for an exhilarating 4-3 victory over the Foxes – a feat that will etch itself as perhaps one of the most thrilling season openers ever.
Alexandre Lacazette gave Arsenal the lead with a debut goal within the first two minutes, while Shinji Okazaki drew level just moments later. After Okazaki’s goal, Jamie Vardy scored to put the Foxes up 2-1, following which, a stunned silence enshrouded the Emirates.
Danny Welbeck scored late in the first-half to draw level at 2-2. The tie was broken when Vardy scored just before the hour mark to make it 3-2 as the Leicester fans erupted with happiness. Unfortunately for them, the feeling was short-lived as Aaron Ramsey equalized soon enough, followed by Olivier Giroud scoring the winning goal.
Twitter exploded with a roller-coaster of emotions as the match progressed, and here are some of the best tweets:
Arsenal 4-3 Leicester FT:
Shots: 27-6
Pass accuracy: 85%-64%
Chances created: 24-4
Possession: 62%-38%What a way to start the season. pic.twitter.com/rUsCGanivp
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) August 11, 2017
⏱ 67' Giroud & Ramsey substituted on
⏱ 83' Ramsey scores ⚽️
⏱ 85' Giroud scores ⚽️Arsene Wenger football genius ?#ARSLEI pic.twitter.com/NJ1wN1cSGF
— 8 Fact Football (@8Fact_Footballl) August 11, 2017
2 subs
2 goals
2 mins#ARSLEI #PLKickOff pic.twitter.com/Jf8DhqfayA— Premier League (@premierleague) August 11, 2017
Arsenal fans went from Joy to Anger to Sadness to Despair to Hope to going absolute bonkers in 90 mins thats why we love this game ?#ArsLei
— Lord of the Memes (@dejazimako007) August 11, 2017
Arsenal 1-0 Leicester (2 mins)
Arsenal 1-1 Leicester (5 mins)It's good to be back… #ARSLEI #PLKickOff pic.twitter.com/EDvEXvlw9o
— Premier League (@premierleague) August 11, 2017
Arsenal 4-3 Leicester – what a comeback! pic.twitter.com/HijxWdpDyc
— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley_) August 11, 2017
82 min: Arsenal 2-3 Leicester
85 min: Arsenal 4-3 Leicester pic.twitter.com/QwBxymtzOd— Futebol de Café (@FutebolDeCafe) August 11, 2017
Now, if every other Premier League team could defend as terribly as both Arsenal and Leicester, we'll have a great season. That'd be great.
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) August 11, 2017
Olivier Giroud was hailed as the hero of the night as he scored the winning goal barely minutes before the final whistle. His performances up-front were also quite impressive, and Arsenal’s attack on the whole, was quite brilliant to watch.
Olivier Giroud has now scored 99 goals in all competitions for Arsenal. #afc pic.twitter.com/Leo4RdIdzv
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) August 11, 2017
Giroud. My man. Derided. Maligned. Insulted. But Arsenal won't be much without him. Scores hugely important goals. Time and again.
— Babanla (@biolakazeem) August 11, 2017
Strikers come and go, Giroud is forever.
— Sidㅤ (@Naitology) August 11, 2017
It is amazing how many times Olivier Giroud will save Arsenal, and yet their fans disrespect him so often.
— Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) August 11, 2017
What is amusing is how Maguire spent the match bullying our boys, with a nasty tackle on Bellerin, but Giroud threw him in the bin for 4-3.
— FK³ (@fkhanage) August 11, 2017
Imagine the shock when I found out 'Beauty and The Beast' was not a documentary on Olivier Giroud.
— Logy (@IAmTheAyology) August 11, 2017
Wow what a start to the premier league 4-3 to the Arsenal. Giroud with the winner it's all about momentum now. Well done lads.
— Sol Campbell (@SolManOfficial) August 11, 2017
Amazing finish to a crazy game. Olivier Giroud celebrates scoring the 4th #Arsenal goal. #afc pic.twitter.com/Je2tOdwmOF
— Stuart MacFarlane (@Stuart_PhotoAFC) August 11, 2017
Wenger just confirming that he gave Giroud an option to leave and he chose to stay. My love grows for him. Oli.
— GoonerGordo (@GoonerGordo) August 11, 2017
I don't know how many more times Giroud has to save or win games for us before people realise just how good he is
— JB™ (@gunnerpunner) August 11, 2017
Giroud is nearly as good as Solanke in the air. Phenomenal
— DaveOCKOP (@DaveOCKOP) August 11, 2017
26 – Since he signed for Arsenal in June 2012, Olivier Giroud has scored more headed Premier League goals than any other player (26). Beauty
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 11, 2017
Amid the joy, fans were also quick to note how shoddy the defending was for either side.
Looking at Arsenal's Defence like… #ARSLEI pic.twitter.com/jufzQpLdXU
— BenchWarmers ⚽️ (@BeWarmers) August 11, 2017
3 points is 3 points, that's brilliant of course. Still not happy with conceding 3 though, got to sort the defence out #COYG #ARSLEI
— Aaron Hurst (@AaronPeterHurst) August 11, 2017
Thoughts on the game #ARSLEI
If Leicester sorted their defence out then they would get top 7 easily
Vardy is world class
— Tom furness (@Tomfurness2) August 11, 2017
Need to sort that defence out, it's a joke. Fix that, then it might be an okay season #ARSLEI
— Daniel Cansdale (@DanCansdale) August 11, 2017
Good news for Jamie Vardy fantasy football fans! ?Where is the Arsenal defence tonight? #ARSLEI
— Adam Higgins (@Higgins_Adam95) August 11, 2017
Arsenal defending so nervously, where is the defence line that played against Chelsea a week ago?! #ARSLEI
— Sacha Jay Smith (@sacha_jay1) August 11, 2017
We don't make it easy for ourselves do we? Still plenty to sort out in defence. Happy with the 3 points though. #Arsenal #ARSLEI
— I am Habeeb (@valyriansword) August 11, 2017
What a game what a win. Brilliant game never the less with a make shift back 3. Sort the defence out and we go @Arsenal #ARSLEI pic.twitter.com/FAoukioDMV
— Lord of Jötunheimr (@Grandemino75) August 11, 2017
What. A. First. Half. Wow. Laca and Kolasinac look great but defence seems pretty shaky and Cech looks useless #AFCvLCFC #ARSLEI #COYG
— Aaron Hurst (@AaronPeterHurst) August 11, 2017
This makeshift defence has been poor so far. I hope Mr. Arsene is monitoring closely. #ARSLEI #PremierLeague
— Official_Jarex2 (@TobiJareAjao) August 11, 2017
5mins gone 1-1. Defence chaos reigns, welcome back #PremierLeague #ARSLEI
— TheMontyTweets (@TheMontyTweets) August 11, 2017
