Premier League Player Ratings: Leicester City 3-4 Arsenal

The first game of the season is in the books for Leicester City, and I’m already at my first “how am i supposed to rate that?” moment. Many of the players looked individually strong, but collectively they were torn apart by Arsenal at times.

Kasper Schmeichel - 7

I can’t go higher than that when he’s conceded four goals, but he really did nothing wrong. In fact, things might have been a lot worse without him.

Danny Simpson - 6

Another solid but unspectacular performance. Again, he didn’t really do anything wrong himself, but the defensive shape fell apart towards the end, and that’s on every member of the line.

Wes Morgan - 3

Was involved in all four Arsenal goals. I’d love to say he was just slow, or just not switched on, but it was a different problem for every goal. Missed a header, let a runner go, abandoned the left side of the box (among others), and then just beaten by Giroud. The last two goals had fouls in the build up, but it would still have been a bad day for the captain.

Harry Maguire - 7

One moment of lost discipline at the back costs a goal. Maguire left his man to dive in on the ball, and suddenly Welbeck was all by himself on the penalty spot. A very avoidable goal. Other than that I thought he was fantastic, including an assist.

Christian Fuchs - 6

Got forward very well in the first half; Arsenal couldn’t deal with him and Albrighton. Pegged back in the second as the defence was eventually overrun.

Riyad Mahrez - 5

I refuse to ignore he created a goal from nothing. Picked up the ball on halfway, carried it forward, won a corner with a decent shot, picked out Vardy’s head from corner. All Riyad.

Literally everything else he did was trash.

Wilfred Ndidi - 6

He did what he always does - worked hard despite a lack of possession, closed the ball down, broke up attacking play. The problem is that without Drinkwater next to him, 60% passing completion doesn't cut it.

Matty James - 6

Really great defensive work, led the game in combined tackles and interceptions. On the other hand, 26 touches in 90 minutes. Drinkwater always leads the team for touches, but today Mahrez and Fuchs each as many as our midfield pair combined. Not saying this pair can't work, but that needs to change.

Marc Albrighton - 8

Works so hard defensively and created two goals with his excellent crossing. Not sure what more you could ask for.

Shinji Okazaki - 7

Answered his main criticisms by scoring, but what happened to the rest? Didn’t have a big impact on Arsenal’s build up play and completed just 50% of his passes. Did somehow win five aerial balls. He can jump.

Jamie Vardy - 9

Arsenal had a makeshift defence and that’s never a good idea against this man. Two chances, two shots on target, two goals. Hard to find a fault.

Daniel Amartey - 6

Came on and put in a defensive shift, but was never really noticeable in his 20 minutes.

Kelechi Iheanacho - n/a

Some are blaming Shakespeare and this substitution for the last two goals, but honestly he was barely involved. Individual mistakes from set pieces were really to blame.

Demarai Gray - n/a

I honestly think bringing him on for the last 3 minutes is more frustrating that keeping him on the bench.

There’s positives aplenty for the Foxes. Maguire looked promising, James and Ndidi were individually strong if not together, Albrighton can cross and, most importantly, Jamie Vardy is on form. When he looks like this, we score goals and have the chance to win games. That’s why he’s my Man of the Match.