Over 60,000 were in the Emirates Stadium to see Arsenal's first game at their new home. A Swede scored the very first goal there in an official match, but sadly for the gooners it was not Ljungberg, but Villa's centre-back Mellberg, who put Martin o'Neill's charges in front until 6 minutes before the end when World Cup tourist Walcott provided the cross that led to Gilbert's goal.
Spurs are one of three teams who failed to score on the opening week-end, and the least said about that game, the better. Everton's win over promoted Watford came courtesy of a Beattie - Johnson combination, and a lucky penalty awarded against Chris Powell for handball, when the ball had clearly hit only his head!
The Toon scraped home against Wigan, and Harry Redknapp's boys thrashed Blackburn 3-0. Lucas Neill has been mentioned during the summer as a possible Spurs target, but once again he saw red for two bookings. Portsmouth featured ex-Spurs players Davis, Mendes and (ahem) a centre-back who came via another London club. Another player with those dubious antecedents (Kanu) scored twice, but saw his hat-trick chance thwarted, when his penalty kick was saved. Blackburn's Andy Todd had also been sent off for the foul that led to the pen, but as he touched the ball first, his card is likely to be rescinded.
Reading made a thrilling come-back from two down to ruin Gareth Southgate's managerial debut, and in the process of battling to a 1-1 draw against Liverpool, Neil Warnock's boys saw both Riise and Carragher substituted in the first half. Riise suffered what looked like the nastier of two ankle injuries, but apparently they will be fit in two weeks' time.
Bobby Zamora scored two for The Hammers, anmd Teddy Sheringham (when replacing Zamora) became the oldest ever outfield player in the Premiership. Andy Reid was only a sub for Charlton.
Fulham were 4 goals down within 20 minutes at Old Trafford, thanks largely to their ex-striker Saha, and Wayne Rooney, who will have to sit out the next three games due to his pre-season red card. Finally, Chelsea carried on where they left off, with Terry on the mark, and keeping a clean sheet, and Lampard finding his scoring boots again.
Results 19-20.08.06
Arsenal 1-1 A. Villa
Bolton 2-0 Spurs
Everton 2-1 Watford
Newcastle 2-1 Wigan
P'tsmouth 3-0 Blackburn
Reading 3-2 M'brough
Sheff Utd 1-1 Liverpool
West Ham 3-1 Charlton
Man Utd 5-1 Fulham
Chelsea 3-0 Man City
FA Barclays Premiership
Pos Team P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Man Utd 1 1 0 0 5 1 4 3
2 Chelsea 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 3
3 P'tsmouth 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 3
4 West Ham 1 1 0 0 3 1 2 3
5 Bolton 1 1 0 0 2 0 2 3
6 Reading 1 1 0 0 3 2 1 3
7 Everton 1 1 0 0 2 1 1 3
8 Newcastle 1 1 0 0 2 1 1 3
9 Arsenal 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
10 A. Villa 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
11 Liverpool 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
12 Sheff Utd 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
13 M'brough 1 0 0 1 2 3 -1 0
14 Watford 1 0 0 1 1 2 -1 0
15 Wigan 1 0 0 1 1 2 -1 0
16 Charlton 1 0 0 1 1 3 -2 0
17 Spurs 1 0 0 1 0 2 -2 0
18 Blackburn 1 0 0 1 0 3 -3 0
19 Man City 1 0 0 1 0 3 -3 0
20 Fulham 1 0 0 1 1 5 -4 0
