Arsenal v Leicester City Betting: Cagey opening to give way to open clash

Arsenal kick off the Premier League season against Leicester at the Emirates where last term they had a strong record.

The Gunners' failure to secure a top-four berth for the first time in 20 years was due mainly to their form on the road where they lost seven matches which ultimately proved costly.

Arsene Wenger will be hoping his side get off to a positive start this season against a Leicester outfit who have proved highly competitive on their visits to north London.

The Foxes have lost each of their last four away games against the Gunners, yet each of those losses has come by a solitary goal margin with the most recent seeing Robert Huth score a own goal in the 86th minute to secure Arsenal a 1-0 success in April.

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bet365 offer Arsenal at 11/4 (3.75) to claim a win once more by a single goal margin and that looks a tempting option for what could be a tight game.

The hosts are naturally favourites to pick up three points priced at 9/20 (1.45) while Leicester are available at a healthy looking 6/1 (7.00), although last season the Midlands outfit were woeful on the road recording just two wins. 

The 2016 Premier League champions, however, have reinforced well in the transfer market with the signings of Sevilla captain Vicente Iborra and Manchester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho set to strengthen the starting XI. 

Both matches between these sides last season comfortably finished with less than three goals and a repeat is offered at 27/20 (2.35). Perhaps a shrewder bet, however, is opposing a high-scoring first half, with Arsenal consistently struggling to net in the opening 45 minutes of home games last season.

Indeed, the Gunners only scored in the first half of four of their last 11 home games, with six of those encounters being 0-0 at the break. Another first half that finishes 0-0 is offered at the appealing price of 5/2 (3.50) while backing no goal before 25 minutes at 5/6 (1.83) looks like sensational value, for a bet which has paid out in ten of Arsenal's last 15 home league games.