Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images
Alexandre Lacazette puts his goal-scoring abilities on display in the Premier League for the first time when Arsenal host Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium on Friday.
The 26-year-old striker, who signed for a club-record €53 million in July, had spent his entire career with Lyon, his hometown club.
Arsenal hope that Lacazette will help them return to the top four of the Premier League table and qualify for the UEFA Champions League -- something they missed out on last season for the first time since Arsene Wenger took over as manager in 1996.
Most Ligue 1 goals, 2013-14 to 2016-17 ESPN Stats & Information
The game will mark the first time the English top-flight season has begun on a Friday in its 129-year history. Arsenal have not lost in any of their seven Premier League games played on a Friday, winning six of them, while Leicester have not won any of their three Friday night Premier League contests.
Leicester have also struggled overall against Arsenal, last winning away in the league in September 1973 and winning anywhere in November 1994 -- a run of 21 games.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have not won their first Premier League game of the season at the Emirates in three of the last four years. They have won only once in their last seven opening-day games -- a 2-1 victory against Crystal Palace in 2014 -- and have not lost three consecutive opening-day games since 1960.
Arsenal vs. Leicester City, Soccer Power Index ESPN Stats & Information
The Premier League debut of Lacazette should help offset Arsenal's loss of Alexis Sanchez, who will not face Leicester because of an abdominal strain.
Sanchez led Arsenal with 24 goals last season and was the only Premier League player to reach double figures in both goals and assists (10).