EPL Opening Day: Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City Record Wins

There were very few surprises on the opening day of the Premier League season as Chelsea, Manchester City, and Arsenal all recorded their first wins.

Chelsea were behind at home to Hull City in the day’s early kick off, but two goals from striker Didier Drogba, including a late goal in stoppage time, securing a 2-1 victory.

All eyes were on big-spending Manchester City as they travelled to Blackburn Rovers, and new signing Emmanuel Adebayor opened his City account with a goal after just two minutes. City went on to win 2-0 with a late goal from Stephen Ireland.

Arsenal travelled to Everton for the late kick-off, the first ESPN-televised game in the UK, with many questions still being asked about whether Arsène Wenger’s young players will be able to keep their place in the top four with the emerging threat of Manchester City.

Any doubts supporters may have had disappeared by half time as Arsenal dominated the game from the start. Brazilian midfielder Denilson grabbed the first for Arsenal with a sublime shot from outside the area into the top corner, before Thomas Vermaelen doubled their lead with a header on his debut after 35 minutes from a free kick. His defensive partner William Gallas then headed Arsenal’s third just before half time from another set piece.

The second half proved just as disastrous for David Moyes’ side as Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas grabbed two goals as Everton offered no resistance to Arsenal, before Eduardo tapped in an Arshavin shot that had hit the post just before full time. Louis Saha grabbed a late consolation in stoppage time, to give the few thousand fans who stayed something to cheer about.

With a defensive performance like that, Moyes should cash in on Joleon Lescott now while the transfer window is still open.

Elsewhere, there was a shock home defeat for Aston Villa against Wigan, as Villa struggled in the middle of the park following the departure of Gareth Barry to Manchester City, and Martin Laursen’s retirement. Hugo Rodallega opened the scoring with a wonderful strike from outside the box that looped over Brad Friedel in the Villa goal; the first contender for goal of the season, right there.

Welsh midfielder Jason Koumas rounded off the win for Roberto Martinez’s side with a tight finish past Friedel in the middle of the second half. A surprisingly comfortable victory for Wigan, and evidence that Martin O’Neill could do with dipping into the transfer market if they want to secure a Europa League place come May.

There was no success for the newly-promoted sides Burnley or Wolverhampton Wanderers who went down to routine defeats to Stoke City and West Ham respectively. Burnley can take heart from a battling second-half display despite conceding two goals in the first half, but never looked like troubling Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen. Survival seems unlikely for the Lancashire side.

West Ham ensured Wolves’ return to the Premier League ended in defeat with West Ham looking dangerous on the counter-attack. Wolves’ defence were caught out for the first goal by Mark Noble, who curled the ball round Wayne Hennessey. Wolves battled through the second half, but some static defending allowed Matthew Upson to head in on 69 minutes to secure the points, and although Wolves came close to securing a consolation goal a minute from time it was West Ham’s day.

Sunderland recorded a win under new manager Steve Bruce away to Bolton with record signing Darren Bent scoring on his Black Cats debut after just six minutes on a day that saw four debut goals. Sunderland should have added to that lead with Bent showing promise up front with Kenwyne Jones. Bolton looked far from threatening, and Sunderland deserved their victory.

Fulham continued their run of good form from last season with an away win at Portsmouth thanks to a speculative shot from Clint Dempsey that ricocheted off Bobby Zamora and past David James into the Portsmouth goal.

Portsmouth were on top for periods of the game but failed to convert a number of chances in front of prospective new owner Sulaiman Al-Fahim. Following Jermain Defoe’s departure last season, and the sale of Peter Crouch this summer, it’s difficult to see where the goals will come from for Portsmouth this season.

Andrew Johnson and Zamora were guilty of wasting a number of good opportunities, but Pompey never looked like scoring and Fulham were comfortable for their first away win of the season.

So after the first eight games of the opening weekend, Arsenal sit top of the league on goal difference, but reigning champions Manchester United begin their season with a home game against Birmingham City in the early kick off on Sunday, while Liverpool travel to White Hart Lane to take on Tottenham Hotspur.