West Ham United’s league campaign got off to a flyer with a 2-0 win over Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Sunday. Cheikhou Kouyate and Mauro Zarate netted on either side of the halftime interval to ensure Arsenal conceded two goals in a match for the first time since February. Arsenal’s marquee summer signing Petr Cech was arguably at fault for the two goals conceded by the Gunners; first racing 12 yards off his line only for Kouyate to head into an empty net, then being badly wrong-footed for Zarate’s goal.

Chelsea also found the going tough in their first match; the reigning champions were held 2-2 by Swansea City at home. Oscar gave the Blues the lead from a free kick but that was cut when Ande Ayew tucked home from close range six minutes later. Willian’s shot deflected wildly off Federico Fernandez to be called an own goal which restored Chelsea’s advantage barely seconds after Ayew’s equaliser. However, there was a twist in the tale; Thibaut Courtois was ejected controversially for a last man foul on Bafe Gomis 18 yards from goal. Gomis calmly slotted home from the spot to level the score at 2-2.

Manchester United also gave a poor performance in their opening day fixture, edging Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 at Old Trafford. The lone goal came from Spurs defender Kyle Walker who turned the ball into his own net whilst trying to disarm Wayne Rooney in front of goal. It marked the competitive debuts for Morgan Schneiderlin, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Memphis Depay, Sergio Romero and Matteo Darmian (arguably the best player on the field) for Manchester United. Toby Alderweireld was playing his first game for Spurs.

The game of the weekend came at Goodison Park where Watford took home a point in their 2-2 draw with Everton. Miguel Layun’s 13

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minute strike was the only goal until Ross Barkley intervened with a fine equaliser on 76 minutes. Watford retook the lead seven minutes later from super sub Odion Ighalo, but Everton had the last say in the encounter as another substitute Arouna Kone netted at the far-post for Everton to salvage a point six minutes from time.

Other scores:

Leicester City 4 – Sunderland 2

Newcastle 2 – Southampton 2

Stoke City 0 – Liverpool 1