Chapter 1: What was the outcome of the Arsenal vs. Leicester match?
Olivier Giroud! Goal! Olivier Giroud! The Super Sub again!
What a way to start the season. A late winner for Olivier Giroud and Arsenal. 4-3 against Leicester. And having spent the first half watching with Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher, who were analysing their defence, it all turned out to be about Arsenal's attack. 70% of the possession, 27 attempts, 10 of them were on target, which dwarfs Leicester statistics. So, Jamie...
We were all set up to talk about Arsenal's defence. How on earth did they turn it into a win?
Well, you have to look at the 3-3 goal. We've said it in commentary. A big part of that, unfortunately, is we're talking about referees at the start of the season again.
Chapter 2: How did Olivier Giroud impact the game for Arsenal?
And this is no different. You see this ball now come over. You see Mesut Ozil as this ball comes. And you see the blatant handball. But you look at the view of the referee in commentary. I gave him the benefit of the doubt. I thought he couldn't see it. He's got to get that decision right. And that's where the corner comes from.
Danny Simpson comes across, makes a challenge, and we get the corner.
It's worth, Jamie, just pointing out that Danny Welbeck did just walk behind us here. Get him in! He's just walked past, I think he's going for his warm-down.
But you talk about substitutions in-game, we spoke about it in common with Martin, and at times when substitutes come on, you're not quite sure who's supposed to pick up who. Adam Ramsey, sorry, was free on the first corner, he just missed with a header, and you're seeing how much space he has at that back post.
Chapter 3: What defensive issues did Arsenal face during the match?
It comes out and he holds that position. Now this is all about the touch and finish. Outside of his right foot, not too far away from him, perfect control. And it's got the stadium bouncing even still now. But you see that outside of the right foot. I always said you two would end up in panto. And look, Challenger's flying in, gets laces on it.
Great goal, and this place is still jumping now. I was just talking to Danny Simpson at the end of the game. It always happens here for Leicester. You just sense that once Arsenal got that third goal, there was big problems for Leicester.
The concentration, I think, that ultimately they put so much effort into the game, but that is a concentration, just not picking up as you're coming out of the box on a set-piece.
The story of the game now is the Arsenal win, but overall, how did you rate their performance?
I think you cut the team in half, and you look at tackle-wise, even before the game, you say it looks fantastic on paper, and it showed that today. Some of the intricate passing, one-twos around the box is what you associate with Arsene Wenger and Arsenal Football Club, and it was outstanding at times tonight.
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Chapter 4: How did Leicester's strategy challenge Arsenal's defense?
We've seen the attempts, how many goals they've scored, but the other half of the pitch, I mean, big problems. Of course... there's injuries there to the two best centre-backs, but even with those centre-backs, they still conceded 44 goals that season, so it's not a great start defensively, but you'll hope reinforcements coming back will change that.
They ended up with a back four of Oxlade-Chamberlain, Bellerin, Monreal and Kolicinac. That isn't a back four, it's makeshift at best. I know they were chasing the game. They have got injuries, but it is the question that we ask year in, year out about that spine, conceding goals, that...
weakness if you like and it was evident tonight they were vulnerable I'm sure they'll be really concerned Petr Cech Arsene Wenger those senior people in the club about how vulnerable they've got to correct that because they're fantastic going forwards fantastic going forwards and and they they just kept on going didn't they it did feel as though that we were coming down to the to our position here and we were saying on the way that it felt as though that winner was coming
But I think when it goes 3-3, Leicester has played. I think they're going to win a game. You know what it's like. You go flat and eventually you think Arsenal get that lift and they get the goal. And again, it comes from substitutions. This time, Olivier Giroud, a player I am a big fan of. And at this time, I'm going to highlight him now.
Chapter 5: What were the key statistics from the Arsenal vs. Leicester match?
It wasn't the same as Ramsey, where he was unmarked. He was actually marked by Harry Maguire. And this is a great ball into the danger area, if you like, but not... Whipped him at great pace, there's great height on it. You see him in the middle there. And I just want to try and stop it there. Now, steady, boys, it's coming. But you see that there, the grappling.
So he hasn't got a run and a leap, Harry. They're fighting each other, but look at the strength. We see from here a little bit of Giroud now. Holds Harry Maguire off, flicks it in. And possibly the only position would have beaten Kasper Schmeichel in off that top corner.
It's incredible. Off balance.
Chapter 6: How did substitutions affect the game's outcome?
I mean, that is so difficult. The way in which he strains his neck to get the power on it. Because like I said, I don't think there's a great deal of pace on the ball. It's not one of those ones where you're just glancing at it. It's an absolutely brilliant header. It really is. A great start to the season for Arsenal.
You feared for Arsenal at certain points in that game, set up there on the gantry, that sort of quietness in the ground, the atmosphere, thinking, ready to turn, a little bit moody, but they've ended on a real high tonight and, like I say, these fans around us are very, very happy.
And, Jamie, you said you're a fan of Giroud. He's got this great record of scoring as a substitute. Why do you think he isn't starting more regularly?
No, it's not about him. I'm not saying he should be Arsenal's number one striker because that wouldn't be enough if Arsenal were trying to win a Premier League or a Champions League, which a club of this size should be. But there's so many strikers down the years who've been that back-up striker who play a major part in a season. He'll still play 30 games.
Chapter 7: What were the post-match reactions from the players?
He'll get you 15 goals. He gives you that aerial ability going forward, as we've seen with the winning goal. What he did defensively towards the end of the game, Gary's just mentioned, the back four Arsenal had. Without him at the end, you're fairly... Leicester would have got the equaliser. But I just think he's had too much criticism and it's not his fault.
It's the players around him in terms of Arsene Wenger being in a better centre forward in. So he's not the sort of the focal point everyone looks at and saying he's not good enough. He's good enough to do that job of a second striker. What Dzeko did for Man City for two or three years when they were winning titles, Iguero was the number one man, but he played a huge role.
Well, another striker who had a great game here but ended up on the losing side is Jamie Vardy. Here he is with Jeff Shreves.
Jamie, can you believe you come out of that with nothing?
I think we can set up for the past three seasons here to be honest with you. Gave it away two years ago and then last year obviously a lucky one goal and today exactly the same.
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Chapter 8: What insights did Arsene Wenger provide about the team's performance?
Do you feel as though you gave it away tonight?
I think if you went in and asked everyone, I think they'll say yeah. I'm not going to lie about it. We put ourselves in a commanding position and then a few laps in concentration is what's cost us the two goals at the end.
Did you not only put yourself in a commanding position, but also with a commanding performance?
Yeah, you can't fault the performance that we've put in, but like I say, I think between us all it's a couple of mistakes, but... We'll make sure we get on that training field and sort them out. Do you put it down to just that, the laps in concentration? I think so, yeah. I don't think you can put it down to anything else. You saw the performance that we put in tonight.
We've given a good account of ourselves. Everyone's given 100%, but like I said, little laps in concentration.
If anything, could you have scored even more tonight?
I think so. I think we had quite a few chances. But like you say, on another day, they'll go in. Unfortunately, not tonight. We've lost, but I think we can take a lot of positives from it.
You had another one, your pace behind the defence. Did you not realise Petr Cech was out that quickly?
I was just concentrating on getting a good touch on the ball away from Monreal, to be honest with you. Fair play to him. He's off his line and he's got there and cleared the ball.
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