Premier League

ARSENAL 4  (Gabriel Jesus 23, 35, Xhaka 55, Martinelli 75)
LEICESTER CITY 2 (Saliba own goal 53, Maddison 74)

ARSENAL were red hot against Leicester this afternoon (Saturday) as they made it two wins from two in the blazing summer heat.

Although the visitors’ boss Brendan Rodgers did his best to insist that the scoreline did not reflect the closeness of the contest, his team had no real answer to a Gunners team brimming with confidence and seemingly already on the same wavelength as an improved unit for the new season.

The obvious difference from last term is the input of new striker Gabriel Jesus but his arrival is also bringing out the best in some now reinvigorated teammates.

This performance was such an opposite to the low points of last season when Arsenal could be sluggish or unimaginative when faced with teams happy to leave the Emirates with a draw. Leicester would have snapped your arm if offered a point today but  Mikel Arteta’s side were in the mood for nothing but taking the victory.

So buoyant, the often maligned Granit Xhaka was zipping around with new found confidence, almost thrust forward into a No. 10 position at times, helping the attack more than protecting the defence. He seemed better in the role and claimed an assist and a goal for his effort.

The fans, having consumed some good Arteta PR on the Amazon Prime series All Or Nothing: Arsenal are buying into the process they’ve been ordered to trust for two years despite understandable doubts.

There is more urgency, faster passing, a desire to score early.

Jesus got his first goal for the club (aside from the heap he netted in pre-season friendlies) when despite tight surrounds around the Leicester box. He dinked a chip beyond keeper Danny Ward, the replacement for the clearly missed Kaspar Schmeichel between the sticks. It was a goal which would draw comparison with Ian Wright, maybe even Thierry Henry.

He might have had a first half hat-trick. Two close range chances were missed after he had made it 2-0 with a simple back post header. A corner had been headed to him by an awkward flick-on from a corner by the Foxes’ own forward Jamie Vardy.

There was a sleepy start to the second period and Leicester were gifted a route back into the game when an up and under was diverted past his own keeper William Saliba. The own goal didn’t seem to phase him, however. He remains an instant fans favourite.

Anyhow, on both occasions that Leicester scored today, Arsenal simply ramped it all up and and scored again.

Ward fumbled badly from a Bukayo Saka cross and Jesus was there to prod the ball to Xhaka, who then had a simple finish to make it 3-1.

When James Maddison drilled in a low shot, nutmegging Aaron Ramsdale in the process, Arsenal responded with a fourth: the industrious Gabriel Martinelli sweeping in a peach of a finish.

Arsenal: Ramsdale, White (Tomiyasu 75), Zinchenko (Tierney 77), Gabriel, Saliba, Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard, Saka (Smith Rowe 84), Martinelli, Jesus (Nketiah 84)
Substitutes not used: Elneny, Holding, Lokonga, Pepe, Turner

Leicester City: Ward, Fofana, Evans, Amartey (Daka 63), Castagne, Justin, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndidi, Tielemans (Praet 63), Maddison, Vardy (Iheanacho 70)
Substitutes not used: Albrighton, Iversen, Mendy, Perez, Soyuncu, Thomas