LONDON: Arsenal launched their bid for their first Premier League title for five seasons with a 1-0 win over promoted West Bromwich Albion on the opening day of the Premier League season yesterday.
French debutant Samir Nasri, who joined Arsenal for £15.0 million ($28.0 million) from Olympique Marseille in the close season, scored the first goal of the new season after four minutes in the lunchtime kickoff at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told BBC TV afterward: “We always looked in control and I thought the second goal would come. But West Brom defended very well and and we lacked a bit of sharpness around the box.” West Brom boss Tony Mowbray told Sky Sports News: “We didn’t get off to a great start. We had one or two opportunities compared to their 15 or 20 but we go away believing we can compete in this league. If we work as hard as we did today we have got a chance.” Bolton Wanderers were the biggest winners in the later matches, beating promoted Stoke City 3-1 at the Reebok Stadium with first half goals from Gretar Steinsson, Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander, Bolton’s club record signing who scored on his debut. Ricardo Fuller scored in the last minute for Stoke.
Promoted Hull City marked their first match in the top division in their 104-year history with a 2-1 win over Fulham at the KC Stadium with goals from Geovanni and substitute Caleb Folan giving them the points after Seol Ki-Hyeon headed Fulham ahead after eight minutes.
David Wheater and former Spurs striker Mido, who came on as a late substitute, scored as Middlesbrough beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at the Riverside Stadium after Wheater had what looked like a valid goal wrongly disallowed in the first half.
Spurs scored when Robert Huth conceded an own goal minutes from time.
Dean Ashton scored twice in the opening 10 minutes for West Ham United to open a 2-0 lead against Wigan Athletic at Upton Park. Although Amr Zaki scored for Wigan early in the second half, West Ham held on for a 2-1 win. Blackburn Rovers won an astonishing match 3-2 at Everton with the teams trading the lead before Andre Ooijer scored a last-minute winner for Rovers.
Sunderland were playing Liverpool in a late kickoff with three more matches scheduled for today including champions Manchester United who play Newcastle United at Old Trafford.
