The Premier League returned in full force this weekend, and it had everything: dazzling debuts, crushing setbacks, and late drama that left fans gasping for breath. From Arsenal’s statement win at the Emirates to Chelsea’s late heartbreak at Brentford, the narrative was as unpredictable as ever.
At the Emirates, Arsenal’s summer recruits wasted no time in showing their worth. Martín Zubimendi struck twice, with Viktor Gyökeres also finding the net, as Mikel Arteta’s side brushed aside Nottingham Forest 3-0. The Spaniard’s thunderous volley set the tone, and his late header sealed the contest, although concern lingers after captain Martin Ødegaard limped off with a shoulder injury.
Ange Postecoglou’s return to north London, this time in Forest colours, could hardly have gone worse. His side never found a foothold and were taunted mercilessly by the home crowd. Arsenal’s performance, however, hinted at steel and creativity that could push them beyond last season’s near-miss.
On Tyneside, Newcastle fans welcomed a new hero. Nick Woltemade marked his debut with a towering header to secure a gritty 1-0 win over Wolves. Eddie Howe’s men were far from fluent, but the German forward’s early impact offered encouragement ahead of a daunting Champions League clash with Barcelona.
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, were left frustrated at Selhurst Park. Yeremy Pino squandered the best chance of a goalless draw against Sunderland, dragging his shot wide on a day when Palace dominated but could not find a finish. Sunderland, newly promoted and disciplined, left with a valuable away point.
Everton and Aston Villa played out another stalemate, with neither side able to find the spark in a 0-0 draw at Hill-Dickinson Stadium. Jack Grealish’s reunion with his boyhood club provided intrigue, but Villa’s struggles in front of goal remain a growing concern for Unai Emery.
At Craven Cottage, late drama decided the day. Fulham’s big-money signing Kevin inspired a flurry of chances off the bench before Gabriel Gudmundsson’s stoppage-time own goal handed Marco Silva’s side a 1-0 win over Leeds. It was harsh on the visitors, who had looked resilient, but Fulham’s fans left in raptures after a first win of the season.
Bournemouth also celebrated thanks to Antoine Semenyo, who scored one and created another in a 2-1 victory over Brighton. His link-up with Alex Scott, who also netted, provided the Cherries with cutting edge. Kaoru Mitoma briefly levelled for Brighton, but the Seagulls paid for defensive lapses and left empty-handed.
In east London, Spurs roared back to form with a 3-0 derby win at West Ham. Goals from Pape Matar Sarr, Lucas Bergvall, and Micky van de Ven secured Graham Potter’s men a much-needed lift. For West Ham, the loss extended a dire home run and left their fans streaming out early, disillusioned once more.
There was more fireworks in west London. Chelsea thought they had turned the corner when Moisés Caicedo’s late strike put them 2-1 up at Brentford, only for Fábio Carvalho to snatch a stoppage-time equaliser. Cole Palmer’s return had reignited Chelsea, but once again, lapses in concentration cost them precious points.
