Brighton & Hove Albion defeats Manchester United 2-1
In this match, FA Cup victors Manchester United looked to their big transfer window signings to turn things around against the Seagulls, who had won four of their last five encounters with the Red Devils. The match kicked off with several close shots from both sides, eventually culminating in a lovely tap-in from Brighton’s Danny Welbeck in the 34th minute. Thirty minutes later, Amad Diallo of Manchester United sprinted past Brighton’s defense to equalize the match, deflecting off Van Hecke’s knee for the equalizer. With seconds of stoppage time left, Brighton’s Simon Adingra took a corner straight to a wildly unmarked João Pedro, who headed it in from five yards out, making it 2-1. The early loss for Manchester United is an indication of bad management and an improving Brighton side.
Leicester City ties Tottenham 1-1
Newly promoted Leicester had a tough first test back into the top flight, taking on a powerhouse Tottenham squad that qualified for the Europa League just a year ago. The Foxes have undergone something of a makeover over the summer, replacing manager Enzo Maresca, who left to join Chelsea with former Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper. Tottenham started brightly and peppered Leicester with shots in the first half, taking an early lead with Pedro Porro’s strike in the 29th minute. It began to look as though the visitors would win with ease, but 37-year old Jamie Vardy struck with a bullet header midway through the second half to give the hosts a share of the spoils.
Bournemouth defeats Everton 3-2
A beautiful day in Merseyside saw a flurry of late goals from Bournemouth, seizing victory from the jaws of defeat. Everton raced to a two-goal lead in the 50th and 57th minutes, with goals from Michael Keane and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and it seemed as if they would cruise to an easy home win to get their season off and running. However, the game ran away from then in the 87th minute, when Antoine Semenyo pulled one back. With the game in stoppage time and the visiting team still trailing, Lewis Cook headed in an equalizer, then Luis Sinisterra clinched the game in the 96th minute, snatching all three points for Bournemouth.
Arsenal tops Aston Villa 2-0
The Gunners made the trip up to Birmingham’s Villa Park for their second match of the season, hungry for revenge. Last season, Aston Villa was the only side to have beaten Mikel Arteta’s Gunners both times they met, costing Arsenal the title. Initially, the match was fairly even, but 20 minutes in, Arsenal began to lose composure. 25 minutes in, Villa’s Ollie Watkins missed a tap-in, then later headed the ball point-blank, but was blocked by David Raya in one of the most spectacular saves in recent memory. The tides turned in the second half, however, with a 67th-minute Bukayo Saka cross and a Leandro Trossard goal with his first touch of the match giving the Gunners a 1-0 advantage. Ten minutes later, Thomas Partey extended the lead from twenty yards out, scoring his first Premier League goal since March 2023. At full time, the score read two-nil to Arsenal, marking a great start to the season and a beautiful revenge victory over Villa.
