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Arsenal logo
Premier League | Gameweek 2
Aug 13, 2022 at 3pm UK
Emirates Stadium
Leicester logo

Arsenal
4 - 2
Leicester

Jesus (23', 35'), Xhaka (55'), Martinelli (75')
Tomiyasu (90')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Saliba (53' og.), Maddison (74')
Fofana (16')

Mikel Arteta hails fan reaction to William Saliba own goal

Mikel Arteta hails fan reaction to William Saliba own goal
© Reuters
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta hails the reaction to William Saliba's own goal in Saturday's 4-2 Premier League win over Leicester City at the Emirates.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has hailed the reaction of Gunners fans to William Saliba's own goal in Saturday's 4-2 Premier League win over Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners found themselves 2-0 up in the first half thanks to Gabriel Jesus's brace before Saliba attempted to snuff out a Leicester attack by heading the ball back to Aaron Ramsdale.

However, Ramsdale had taken a slight step to his left and could not get across to Saliba's return, which ended up trickling into the back of the net to reduce the deficit.

Granit Xhaka and Gabriel Martinelli eventually put Arsenal out of sight after another response from James Maddison, and Arsenal fans did their best to encourage Saliba after his own goal.

The 21-year-old has quickly become a fan favourite at the Emirates since being integrated into the first team, and Arteta claimed that he had never witnessed such a reaction to an own goal in his entire career.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on August 13, 2022© Reuters

"We are telling them every day that when we play we are getting better and better. What they've done today with William Saliba is something that in my career I haven't seen," arsenal.com quotes Arteta as saying in his post-match press conference.

"That shows the connection and to really be there when it matters and when it's difficult for somebody. We should be really proud to play in front of them because that was special.

"I think it really lifted the confidence of Wilo and how he played the last minutes after that and for the team as well. I am happier today than I was at Crystal Palace with him because the way he played after that was incredible."

Saliba otherwise put in a composed performance in Arsenal's second win of the season, where Jesus stole the show with two goals and two assists on his home Premier League debut.

The 25-year-old made Arsenal history as the first Gunners player to ever score twice on their Premier League home debut, as well as joining Theo Walcott as the only Arsenal players to score and assist twice in the same Premier League game.

Gabriel Jesus celebrates scoring for Arsenal on August 13, 2022© Reuters

Arteta was unsurprisingly full of praise for Jesus, claiming that he would not have liked to have come up against him as a player.

"We know what Gabby can do. He scored two and assisted two and he's still disappointed in the dressing room because he said he could have scored four. That's the standard, that's the mentality that if you want to go to a different level you need that mentality," Arteta added.

"I wouldn't like to play against him. I have never been a defender but I can imagine that they don't enjoy it. He's so mobile, so intuitive and is always sharp and proactive to play in any moment and any phase of the game and he's a real threat.

"We are going to demand him to start a lot of games, so we have to manage that load and the way that we train is different. We have to be on top of that and hopefully we are."

Arsenal will endeavour to make it nine points from their opening three Premier League games when they travel to Bournemouth next Saturday evening.

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Gabriel Jesus celebrates scoring for Arsenal on August 13, 2022
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CManchester CityMan City38287396346291
2Arsenal38285591296289
3Liverpool382410486414582
4Aston Villa382081076611568
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs382061274611366
6Chelsea381891177631463
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle381861485622360
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd38186145758-160
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham381410146074-1452
10Crystal Palace381310155758-149
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton381212145562-748
12Bournemouth38139165467-1348
13Fulham38138175561-647
14Wolverhampton WanderersWolves38137185065-1546
15Everton38139164051-1140
16Brentford38109195665-939
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3899204967-1832
RLuton TownLuton3868245285-3326
RBurnley3859244178-3724
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd38372835104-6916


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