Well, it's been a long summer break. Cash has been splashed, transfer fees smashed and, in one particular case, heroes have returned to their roots for one last hurrah. Kicking off the action on Friday night is Arsenal, who will play host to Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium. As <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/can-chelsea-get-off-to-a-good-start-will-arsenal-resist-leicester-and-manchester-clubs-begin-season-with-promise-1.618541">Paul Radley noted in his preview</a>, Arsene Wenger has done much to dampen the disquiet of the more vocal Arsenal fans who were baying for his departure after a lacklustre 2016/17 campaign. After waiting until he had secured the FA Cup in May before signing a new contract extension, the Frenchman has attempted to address his team's shortcomings, smashing the club's transfer record to lure Alexandre Lacazette from Lyon and bringing in defensive reinforcements to bolster a suspect rearguard. <strong>MORE ON THE PREMIER LEAGUE:</strong> A poor start to the season has severely hampered Arsenal's ambitions over the past seven seasons, winning just once with three draws and as many defeats. Luckily for them, they face an opponent in Leicester who they hold something of an Indian sign over and who boast an even worse record in opening matches, winning just once of their past eight. Leicester are winless against the North London club in their past 21 league meetings stretching back to November 1994 and Arsenal's run of 10 straight home victories over Craig Shakespeare's side is the longest for an English top-flight club at home. During Leicester's fairy-tale title winning campaign in 2015/16, they lost only three matches and two of those were to Wenger's men. Check out more stats on this fixture below:
