Arsenal 4-2 Leicester City: player ratings

Arsenal marked their first league game of the season with a 4-2 victory over Leicester City as Gabriel Jesus starred with a brace.

The Gunners treated the Foxes to a dominant display, complete with a couple of debut goals for Jesus to set up a 2-0 advantage going into the break.

Brendan Rodgers’ men hit back on two separate occasions with a William Saliba own goal and James Maddison finish throughout the second period.

The visitors’ efforts, however, were met with immediate responses from Granit Xhaka and Gabriel Martinelli, raising the roof with a dominant 4-2 victory.

With Mikel Arteta sticking to the same XI that dodged past Crystal Palace with a 2-0 victory last weekend, the Gunners started brightly on a sweltering hot afternoon in North London.

The first good chance, however, fell Leicester’s way after Wesley Fofana hijacked possession from Granit Xhaka high up the field before stumbling up against the on-rushing Aaron Ramsdale.

Arsenal began clocking up the chances soon after with a couple of headers, first via Jesus in the 10th minute before Xhaka hit the post from a Bukayo Saka cross, aimed at the back-stick.

The opening goal soon followed and it came from the man everyone was banking on as Jesus, inside the Foxes area, found the time and space to control Xhaka’s knock-on and lift his shot over Danny Ward in the 23rd minute.

Jesus doubled his dose in the 37th minute with a back-post header from a corner and would’ve made it 3-0 on a couple of occasions had it not been for a crucial Wilfred Ndidi intervention and Ward save.

The Gunners’ dominant display almost caught a blemish when Ramsdale’s clash with a falling Jamie Vardy had the referee pointing to the penalty spot, but VAR was on hand to rectify the decision and keep things at 2-0 to the hosts at half-time.

It was much of the same in the early moments of the first half before a tricky ball into the Arsenal box from left-field had William Saliba and Ramsdale caught in a spot of bother, culminating in an own-goal for the Frenchman.

Arsenal bit back quickly, however, reinstating their two-goal advantage after a Ward spill, with Jesus setting Xhaka up for a finish into a semi-empty net in the 54th minute.

The hosts looked to add more in the lead up to James Maddison clawing one more goal back for Leicester, but again Arsenal’s response was immediate, making it 4-2 via Martinelli’s strike with a quarter of an hour to go.

The Brazilian’s left-footed effort served to cool the game as Arsenal made it two wins from two in an exciting start to the 2022/23 season.

PLAYER RATINGS

Aaron Ramsdale - 6

Ramsdale may well look back on that performance as relatively bittersweet after taking a portion of the blame for both goals conceded.

The keeper’s positioning made Leicester’s first a tricky play for Saliba to judge as he nodded past his own teammate, meanwhile he’ll certainly be disappointed to have been beaten from a tight angle by Maddison.

Ramsdale still provided a couple of crucial interventions early on, however, allowing Arsenal to set the tone they initially desired.

Ben White - 7

Not too many faults against Ben White’s performance as he adapts to his new right-back role. 

The defender was active in possession, where possible, and leaves himself a solid base to build upon. Good signs.

William Saliba - 8

The own-goal will offer a sour taste to Saliba’s day but his actions around the isolated incident were spot on.

Saliba was able to read the game expertly and complement Gabriel at the heart of Arsenal’s defence.

Gabriel Magalhães - 7

In for a tricky afternoon up against the relentless Vardy, Gabriel never really looked that bothered by the forward keen to run in behind.

Solid in possession too, Gabriel offered tranquility and continuity to Arsenal’s general play.

Oleksandr Zinchenko - 8

A very solid display from the new boy on his official home debut, offering plenty of security in possession in wide areas, as well as more centrally.

Thomas Partey - 8

The Gunners suffocated and dominated Leicester in the engine room and Partey was just one of the key figures that allowed that to happen.

Sharp on his toes, the Ghana international also excelled at progressing the ball forwards in timely fashion as the Gunners aimed to break with pace and accuracy.

Granit Xhaka - 8

The start was relatively rocky for Xhaka, who was caught out in one of Leicester’s early chances of the game before proceeding to provide a few loose passes and touches.

Xhaka really turned it around in the second half, however, providing exemplary work ethic and a key third goal for Arsenal.

Gabriel Martinelli - 9

The plaudits will all go Gabriel Jesus’ way for the handful of goals and assists bagged, but Martinelli won’t be far behind.

Scoring for a second consecutive game, the young forward was in so many of Arsenal’s promising attacks, combined expertly with Jesus and Zinchenko on the flanks and pressed expertly.

Martin Ødegaard - 8

After another top performance in red and white, Ødegaard appeared untouchable in the thick of the midfield metropolis as he glued the North Londoners’ attacking moves together.

Only a goal/assist evaded him in a very pleasing showing from the Arsenal number 8.

Bukayo Saka - 7

A quieter game from the Gunners ‘starboy’, which is a testament to how much the Arsenal attack seems to have evolved.

Still, Bukayo Saka was rarely caught in error and contributed to a memorable afternoon of football. 

Gabriel Jesus - 9 *MOTM*

Pretty much the perfect home debut for Jesus who demonstrated his range in front of goal with the two goals bagged at the Emirates Stadium.

A total nuisance all afternoon, Jesus was involved in a stream of Arsenal’s best moves, notched a couple of his assists in the process and could’ve even had more goals to count up.

The Brazilian was nothing short of inspiring.

Takehiro Tomiyasu - N/A

(on in 74th minute)

Kieran Tierney - N/A

(On in 80th minute)

Eddie Nketiah - N/A

(On in 84th minute)

Emile Smith-Rowe - N/A

(On in 84th minute)