Xhaka made his full debut in Saturday’s 0-0 Premier League draw at champions Leicester City, but the visiting supporters made their displeasure plain by chanting: “Spend some money!” No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. The Gunners, playing with a side that were without a number of their first team stars, scored three against a spirited Liverpool but a shaky defence leaked four as they, too, opened the season with a loss.
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THE TOP TWO from last season’s Premier League remain winless after Leicester City and Arsenal shared a forgettable goalless draw.
Leicester lost debutant Nampalys Mendy just six minutes into the second half when he fell awkwardly and was replaced by Andy King.
Instead he started Sanchez as an out-and-out striker in Sunday’s 4-3 defeat at home to Liverpool and looks set to continue with that approach for Saturday’s trip to face the Foxes, with Olivier Giroud likely once again be rested following his Euro 2016 exertions with France.
Arsenal are without a win from their first two games and already find themselves five points behind Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Hull City in the table.
While it might be a little early to suggest their bubble has burst, they certainly appear to be deflated, and it’s clear the departure of N’Golo Kante has left a huge void in their ranks.
Mahrez would have been a fantastic signing for Arsenal, as he had a fantastic year last season en route to the PFA Player of the Year award.
Petr Cech smothered at his feet and the ball fell to Drinkwater, who went down under Laurent Koscielny’s challenge but referee Mark Clattenburg was unmoved.
But the hosts began to show greater enterprise in attack, Riyad Mahrez drawing an untidy foul from Francis Coquelin and then whipping a shot narrowly over the bar from the free-kick that followed.
Arsene Wenger, minutes later, opted for a double substitution.
Leicester did miss influential defender Robert Huth last game, but the German will be back for the Arsenal tie.
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The Foxes had a big appeal for a penalty waved away when Hector Bellerin brought down Nigeria star Ahmed Musa in the second half.
