Giroud header seals Arsenal win in season-opening thriller

Reuters: Arsenal had to come from behind twice to beat Leicester City 4-3 in a thriller as the Premier League season got off to a flying start on Friday with Arsene Wenger’s substitutions turning the match around at The Emirates.

Olivier Giroud came off the bench to head a late winner after Aaron Ramsey had brought Arsenal level at 3-3 following a Jamie Vardy double for the visitors. The home side’s new French signing Alexandre Lacazette had given them an early lead.

The match was a great advert for a league that is already prime box office viewing worldwide but Arsenal’s hopes of a first title since 2004 will require some polishing of a rusty defence after Leicester put away half of their chances.

Arsenal looked a beaten team when Leicester led 3-2 early in the second half after Vardy grabbed his second goal before the substitutions gave them new vigour in attack.

Giroud’s clever header in the 85th minute secured the points after Lacazette had taken just 94 seconds to make his mark with a header from Mohamed Elneny’s curling cross, equalling the record for the fastest opening goal in a Premier League season.

The lead lasted three minutes before Leicester’s new signing Harry Maguire headed Marc Albrighton’s cross from the left back into the middle and Shinji Okazaki nodded the ball past flailing Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech.