Alexandre Lacazette opened the scoring after just 94 seconds but it still proved to be a difficult evening for the Gunners

Olivier Giroud spared Arsenal’s opening day blushes with a late winner against Leicester.

Giroud came off the bench to score a powerful header as Arsenal had to twice come from behind to secure victory.

Alexandre Lacazette had given the hosts the lead just 94 seconds into his Premier League debut, but was soon pegged back by Shinji Okazaki before Jamie Vardy gave Leicester the lead.

Danny Welbeck was able to tap into an open net to level the scores at the break.

Problems continued for Arsenal into the second half as Vardy headed home from a Riyad Mahrez corner.

But the Gunners rallied right until the very end and substitutes Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud turned the game on its head in the final 10 minutes.

Here are five talking points from the thrilling Premier League opener…

1. Lacazette’s movement pays dividends early

One thing that Arsenal certainly needed was a poacher. They’ve got one.

It took Alexandre Lacazette just 94 seconds to open his Arsenal Premier League account, expertly heading home from 12 yards out from Mohamed Elneny’s cross.

The Frenchman was cute enough to realise Wes Morgan was edging forward and held his ground, giving himself a yard of space to guide the ball into the corner of the goal.

That mentality inside of the box could be key for Arsenal this season.

2. Mahrez does himself no favours

He has been linked with some of Europe’s biggest teams – including Arsenal – but Riyad Mahrez’s mind looked anywhere but on the game.

Mahrez is clearly keen to leave Leicester this summer but has done himself no favours with a laboured performance at the Emirates.

He was guilty of giving the ball away for the goal that drew Arsenal level at the end of the first half and offered very little in the way of attacking contribution.

Given Mahrez’s current mindset, it is curious as to why Craig Shakespeare didn’t start with Demarai Gray.

Got a point to prove? Jamie Vardy should be the example to follow. Mahrez was the weak link in the Leicester performance.

3. Leicester played with the spirit of champions

Leicester, we suspect, will remain as one season wonders – but they have certainly not lost the fight, determination and discipline of their title exploits from two years ago.

Craig Shakespeare looks to have gone back to basics with his Leicester team this summer and simply told them to work hard and cut out the fancy business. It worked a treat.

Despite the slow start, Leicester stuck to their guns and just made life hard for Arsenal, reaping the rewards on the break and from set pieces.

It was exactly how Leicester played during their title-winning season, they just couldn’t hold on… just as they couldn’t at the Emirates in that famous year.

4. Glum Sanchez didn’t look impressed at first

Oh how we would like to have a penny for Alexis Sanchez’s thoughts as he watched the action develop under the Friday night lights.

Smartly dressed and alongside his girlfriend, Sanchez sat chewing his gum with a rather glum expression on his face as he watched his team-mates crumble during the first-half.

Performances like the one in the first 45, especially defensively, will not give him much motivation to remain at Arsenal for one more season.

Sanchez is still a couple of weeks from returning to playing action and Arsenal will need to be better if they want to keep him around.

5. Arsenal a long, long way off a title challenge

A quick glance at the teamsheet pre-match and it’s hard to argue that the Arsenal XI would win the Premier League.

Going forward, even without Alexis Sanchez, they remain relatively strong and you would expect them to score plenty of goals.

But in midfield and defence, there are still major doubts.

Mohamed Elneny is unlikely to be the long-term answer for the Gunners in the middle of the park, while a back three of Rob Holding, Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac was a mess.

Yes, they have injuries, but there is every chance Arsene Wenger will have to delve back into the transfer market – as proven by the hectic defending that contributing to Leicester’s goals.