Arsenal Vs Leicester City: 5 things we learned

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 22: Mesut Ozil of Arsenal celebrates with Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal after he scores his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Leicester City at Emirates Stadium on October 22, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Arsenal played host to Leicester City on Monday night as the Premier League returned. Here are five things we learned from the 3-1 victory.

A scintillating second-half performance by Arsenal put a dangerous Leicester City to bed on Monday night thanks to two goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as some masterful midfield play by Mesut Ozil. There were plenty of scares earlier on, especially in the first half, but, as has been the case in every one of the seven league wins in succession, Unai Emery’s side improved in the second half and turned a half-time tie into three precious points.

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Here are five things we learned from the 3-1 win.

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 22: Ben Chilwell of Leicester City (right) celebrates with James Maddison of Leicester City after he scores his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Leicester City at Emirates Stadium on October 22, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

5. Slow starts costly

A football match is 90 minutes long. That means that you have to perform well for the full 90 minutes, not just for a part of it. Consistently this season, Arsenal have not performed well for the full 90 minutes. Specifically, they have repeatedly been slow to get going. And this was no different.

They were fortunate to be drawing at the break. Leicester City were much the better team in the first 30 minutes. Leicester outshot their hosts five to four, had forced Bernd Leno into two saves, the latter of which was a phenomenal stretched effort to palm Harry Maguire’s low header around the far post, and were deserving of the first goal, even if it was a little fortunate to flick off the legs of Hector Bellerin.

This is not the first time that Arsenal have started slowly. In fact, I’m not sure there has yet been a match this season in which they have started quickly. That will cost them as the season progresses, even if it didn’t here.