Getty Arsenal took 45 points at home last season but finished fifth in the table.
Community Shield winners Arsenal start their Premier League campaign at home against Leicester City. It’s a first for the Premier League, as the season kicks off with a lone Friday night matchup.
Arsenal and Arsene Wenger avoided disaster to end last season, saving a fifth-place finish with an FA Cup trophy. They’ve reloaded for the new season, adding France national team member Alexandre Lacazette in the summer. Arsenal are not fully fit to start the season, and players like Ozil, Mertesacker and Aaron Ramsey are all in doubt.
It’s back to normal for Leicester this season, who won’t be burdened by added Champions League matches on their schedule. Craig Shakespeare is the man in charge for the Foxes, who added Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho to improve their attack. It’s not an easy start for Leicester, who haven’t taken three points from Arsenal since 1994. Making things worse are injuries to Danny Drinkwater and Vicente Iborra, the latter a new signing from Sevilla.
Arsenal will look to continue their strong form at Emirates Stadium. The Gunners have only lost five games at home in the past two seasons, and outscored opponents 39-16 while going 14-3-2 last season.
Here are the basics:
DATE: Friday, August 11, 2017
CHANNEL: NBC Sports Network
KICKOFF TIME: 2:45 p.m. Eastern
LOCATION: Emirates Stadium
LIVE STREAM: Click here for all live streaming information
LINEUP
Arsenal: Cech, Holding, Monreal, Kolasinac, Elneny, Xhaka, Bellerin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Welbeck, Lacazette
Leicester City: Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan, Maguire, Fuchs, Mahrez, Ndidi, James, Albrighton, Okazaki, Vardy