The new Premier League season gets underway on Friday with Arsenal hosting Leicester City at The Emirates – the first time in English football history the top-flight has begun on a Friday.
Arsenal’s season began officially last weekend with victory in the Community Shield over Chelsea.
The Gunners do not possess the great record on the opening day – Arsenal have failed to win in 12 of their 25 opening day matches since the Premier League began, and since 2010 have won just once.
2016 Premier League champions Leicester will be looking to get off to a good start, but their record against Arsenal is not great as the Londonders have won ten games in succession against the Foxes.
See below for a run-down on the game, including predictions from former England, Crystal Palace and Tottenham midfielder and GamblingTimes.com columnist Andy Gray and our own Football Insider Graeme Bailey together with everything you need to know from the bookies – with Ladbrokes’s William Geldart.
ARSENAL 19.45 LEICESTER CITY
Friday, 11th August
The Emirates Stadium
Live on Sky Sports
TEAM NEWS: Arsenal are without Alexis Sanchez and Gabriel Paulista through injury, whilst Laurent Koscielny is suspended. There are also doubts over Francis Coquelin, Aaron Ramsey, Per Mertesacker, Mesut Ozil and Shkodran Mustafi. Danny Drinkwater is out with a thigh problem for the visitors and new signing Vicente Iborra is out, but Kelechi Iheanacho should be available.
KEY FACT: Arsenal have won ten games in-a-row against Leicester
MATCH ODDS: Arsenal 4/9 Draw 13/4 Leicester 5/1
ANDY SAYS: I think Arsenal will open up their season with a win, they will be too good for Leicester – 2-1
GRAEME SAYS: I think a full strength Leicester could have taken something, but Arsenal to win this – 2-0
LADBROKES PICK: Both teams to score in second half @15/8
FOOTBALLIndex – One to follow: Alexandre Lacazette could be in line for a very good season – so at £3.78 could be something of a bargain.