Premier League
Shocks Reign as Premiership Burst into Surprise Openings
The English Premier League, undoubtedly the most followed domestic football league in the world opened at the weekend with a flurry of shocks, but the big boys still lived up to expectations.
While defending champions, Chelsea suddenly discovered themselves being pummelled at home and taking a 0-3 dip at half time, elsewhere, the likes of Wayne Rooney at Everton and Alexandre Lacazette with Arsenal proved their worth at the summer transfer market.
Alexandre Lacazette on the opening day on Friday needed just two minutes to fire Arsenal ahead in an eventual 4-3 defeat of Leicester City. So also Rooney fired in the only goal that enabled Everton overcome Stoke City.
What is more, his goal on Saturday was the 300th Premier League goal in which he was involved.
He is thus just 24 goals behind record holder, Alan Shearer. But as both Rooney and Lacazette made individual marks, Chelsea have everything to worry about in their title defence which opened with a 2-3 loss at home to lowly rated Burnley.
They became the first defending champion to concede three goals in an opening match. They eventually finished their league opener with two man deficit.
Had it not been for Chelsea’s debacle/Burnley’s triumph, Liverpool’s draw at the hands of Watford would be the story of the day.
Miguel Britos scored a controversial goal in extra time to hand Watford a 3-3 draw with the boys from the Merseyside.
Watford are considered lightweights by Premier League standards, the match had the feeling of a heavyweight bout, as the two clubs traded blows all afternoon, with Watford landing the final punch that secured the draw.
But the hornets also landed the opening punch, with a goal from Nigerian decent, Stefano Okaka in the eighth minute.
With uncertainty over the future of Philippe Coutinho, the mantle of best player at Liverpool will fall to either Sadio Mane or Roberto Firmino, both of whom scored on Saturday.
Mane sped around the Watford box and curled home a give-and-go with a couple of his teammates to the far-post in the 29th.
That lead didn’t last long, however, as Abdoulaye Doucouré brought Watford back ahead three minutes later. On the other side of the half, Firmino scored from the penalty spot following a foul on new boy Mohamed Salah to bring the score level again at 2-2.
It was Salah, a player with a bright future at Anfield, who scored two minutes after Firmino to give Liverpool its first lead of the match.
On the counter, Firmino chipped the keeper, but the shot was on trajectory to land well short of the goal line. But Salah charged onto the ball as if it were a pass and put a boot on it to score on the open net.
With two goals in quick succession, Liverpool seemed to have weathered the storm and were set to take three points from the match at Vicarage Road.
But Britos headed the match-tying goal in off the line after the Reds failed to clear a corner that ricocheted around the box and to the Watford man.
There were calls for offside, but the referee swallowed his whistle and the goal stood.
Liverpool has the right to feel aggrieved in this draw, considering both the controversy on the last goal, as well as an offside Watford player in the build-up to the Doucouré goal.
But plenty of this draw was created by their own faults. The main criticism of the Reds last season was that, while they could score with the best of them, their defence was broken down far too easily far too often, especially on set pieces.
That doesn’t seem to have changed in the offseason, as Jurgen Klopp never bought another defender to reinforce his back line.
If he doesn’t change something soon, this trend of excellent attacking and atrocious defending could continue for the next nine months.
Although it wasn’t on the same scale as Chelsea-Burnley, Huddersfield Town also secured an upset in the club’s first ever match in the Premier League, and they did it by a large margin.
The Terriers defeated Crystal Palace to open the season. A Joel Ward own goal and two from new signing Steve Mounie gave Huddersfield a 3-0 win away from home at Selhurst Park. It’s a dream start for one of the club’s favoured for relegation this season.
With three goals and a +3 goal differential, Huddersfield Town is top of the league. The beginning of the Premier League season is weird, man.
Other Premier League results
- Brighton 0-2 Manchester City
- West Brom 1-0 Bournemouth
- Southampton 0-0 Swansea City
Premier League
Arsenal Paint London Red with Premier League Victory Parade Despite Champions League Heartbreak
Thousands of jubilant Arsenal supporters flooded the streets of north London on Sunday as the club celebrated its first Premier League title in 22 years, putting aside the disappointment of losing the UEFA Champions League final just 24 hours earlier.
The celebrations came less than a day after Arsenal suffered a penalty shootout defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final in Budapest. Yet the setback did little to dampen the spirits of the club’s faithful, who turned out in huge numbers to honour a historic domestic triumph.
Players and coaching staff paraded through north London aboard an open-top bus, proudly displaying the Premier League trophy that Arsenal had finally reclaimed for the first time since Arsène Wenger’s legendary “Invincibles” side lifted it in the 2003-04 season.
Arsenal had wrapped up the title before the final round of fixtures after establishing an unassailable lead over defending champions Manchester City, who eventually finished seven points adrift of Mikel Arteta’s side.
The league crown marked Arsenal’s first major trophy since Arteta guided the club to FA Cup success in 2020 during his debut season as manager. It also ended years of frustration after the Gunners had finished runners-up in the Premier League in each of the previous three seasons.
Red flares, fireworks and the sound of vuvuzelas filled the air as supporters celebrated a long-awaited return to the summit of English football.
“We’re not European champions, but we are champions of England, and that’s what matters right now,” said Arsenal supporter Julien Guillenenat. “We’re happy to celebrate with everyone.”
Another fan, 44-year-old Mathieu Garnier, believes the Premier League triumph has finally removed the psychological burden that had weighed heavily on the team.
“Three years in a row we finished second, and now that pressure is gone,” he said. “These players are going to be flying next season. I really believe that.”
Adding to the festivities was Arsenal’s women’s team, who joined the celebrations after their successful FIFA Champions Cup campaign this season.
Midfielder Declan Rice, signed from West Ham United in 2023 for a club-record £105 million, said the title triumph had silenced many of the club’s critics.
“People were pointing and laughing at us before,” Rice told Sky Sports. “What happened? They’re not laughing anymore. I love this team, I love this manager, and to see the joy we’ve brought to the fans is incredible.
“Next season we’re coming back for more.”
Despite the pain of falling short in Europe, many Arsenal supporters remain optimistic that the club will soon challenge again for continental glory.
Twenty-two-year-old fan Theo Grant believes the Champions League disappointment will only strengthen the squad’s resolve.
“Honestly, this loss will give the players even more motivation,” he said. “We’ll be back. I believe we’ll reach the final again next season.”
For Arsenal supporters, however, Sunday was not about what might have been in Europe. It was about celebrating the end of a 22-year wait to be crowned champions of England once again.
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Tottenham Hotspur lost 2-1 at Chelsea on Tuesday and still face the risk of relegation from the Premier League in their final game of the season this weekend after goals either side of halftime from the home side’s Enzo Fernandez and Andrey Santos.
Fernandez let rip with a dipping shot from over 25 metres that Antonin Kinsky could not get close to in the 18th minute, electrifying the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge as the home fans revelled in the misery of their North London rivals.
The Argentina midfielder turned provider for Chelsea’s second goal in the 67th, cushioning a high ball into the feet of Santos, who scored from close range.
Richarlison got one back for Spurs in the 74th minute, but the defeat means Tottenham remain two points above West Ham United, who currently occupy the last relegation spot.
However, Spurs have a much better goal difference, meaning a draw at home to Everton on Sunday would all but guarantee their Premier League survival.
Chelsea, fresh from announcing former Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso as their next manager after a limp 2025/26 campaign, climbed to eighth place, which offers a berth in the UEFA Conference League next season
The Blues, who lost to Manchester City in the FA Cup final on Saturday, are one point behind Brighton & Hove Albion, who currently occupy the last of the Europa League spots.
Spurs had only themselves to blame for Tuesday’s defeat.
After Mathys Tel hit the post with a header in the 11th minute, they allowed Chelsea to dominate until Richarlison’s goal raised their hopes of rescuing the point they needed.
Substitute James Maddison looked sure to equalise in the 84th, but Chelsea defender Jorrel Hato stretched out a leg to block his angled shot.
The win was Chelsea’s first in the Premier League since March 4, giving their fans something to celebrate after a miserable run that included six consecutive league defeats.
It also means Spurs have only won once at Stamford Bridge since 1990.
-Reuters
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Arsenal F.C. have been crowned Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years after Manchester City F.C. were held to a 1-1 draw by AFC Bournemouth, ending the most dramatic title race of recent seasons and completing a remarkable transformation under manager Mikel Arteta.
The title triumph marks Arsenal’s first league championship since the legendary “Invincibles” side led by Arsène Wenger went unbeaten throughout the 2003-04 campaign.
For Arteta, it represents the crowning moment of a rebuilding project that began when he replaced Unai Emery in December 2019. The Spaniard inherited a struggling Arsenal side but gradually rebuilt the club into genuine title contenders, guiding them to second-place finishes in each of the previous three seasons before finally ending Manchester City’s dominance.
Arsenal appeared in danger of suffering another late collapse after surrendering a nine-point lead earlier in the campaign, particularly following City’s crucial victory over them at the Etihad Stadium in April.
However, the momentum shifted again when City stumbled with a draw against Everton, allowing Arsenal to seize control of the race.
The North London club responded impressively, winning four consecutive matches without conceding a goal, including Monday’s tense 1-0 victory over Burnley F.C. that piled pressure on Pep Guardiola’s side heading into their trip to Bournemouth.
City’s failure to secure victory finally confirmed Arsenal as champions, triggering emotional celebrations among supporters gathered around the Emirates Stadium.
Fans watching the decisive match in nearby pubs poured onto the streets at the final whistle, while thousands more marched toward the Emirates within minutes of the title being secured.
Arteta had admitted before the match that he expected it to be difficult watching City’s game because of the enormous stakes involved, but the Spaniard ultimately witnessed the completion of one of the most significant managerial achievements in modern Arsenal history.
The Gunners will officially receive the Premier League trophy after their final game of the season against Crystal Palace F.C. at Selhurst Park on Sunday.
Arsenal’s triumph could yet become part of an even greater achievement.
The club now have the opportunity to complete a historic double when they face Paris Saint-Germain F.C. in the UEFA Champions League final on May 30.
Only five English clubs have previously managed to win both the league title and the European Cup in the same season, with Manchester City the last side to achieve the feat in 2023.
The title success also signals a changing of the guard in English football.
With Guardiola expected to leave Manchester City after a decade in charge, Arteta — once his assistant at City — is poised to become the longest-serving manager across England’s top four divisions, underlining how dramatically his status has risen since arriving at Arsenal less than seven years ago.
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