LONDON — Arsenal underlined their determination to retain the English Premier League crown with a swaggering start to their title defence.
The Gunners’ main rivals were all assailed by doubts after inconsistent performances from Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United.
AFP Sport looks at three things we learnt from the opening week of the Premier League:
Arsenal relishes title freedom
After 22 long years, Arsenal has started a season as champions at last and the 3-0 win over promoted Coventry suggested they have no desire to relinquish the title anytime soon.
The weight of so many past failures has finally been removed from Arsenal’s shoulders and the freedom in their play was clear to see as Mikel Arteta’s men ripped Coventry to shreds in a significant statement of intent.
The victory over Frank Lampard’s side at the Emirates Stadium featured signs that should alarm any team hoping to take the title from them.
Arsenal looked more vibrant than in their tension-filled march to the trophy last term, and with new Greek winger Christos Tzolis providing a jolt of energy, they were able to rely on far more than their vaunted set-pieces to dismantle Coventry.
Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard were the scorers, with England defender Ezri Konsa’s pre-match unveiling after his move from Aston Villa providing another ominous signal of Arsenal’s dynastic ambitions.
Maresca, Iraola put through the ringer
With just moments left to play at the Etihad Stadium and St James’ Park, it seemed Manchester City’s new manager Enzo Maresca and Liverpool’s debutant boss Andoni Iraola were destined for disappointment.
City was being held to a 1-1 draw by Bournemouth after Marc Guehi’s 84th minute header cancelled out Marcus Tavernier’s opener for the Cherries.
Liverpool was in dire straits, trailing 2-1 after Joe Willock’s goal restored Newcastle’s lead following a Cody Gakpo equaliser of Anthony Elanga’s early strike.
In Manchester, Maresca’s decision to send on France playmaker Rayan Cherki paid dividends as he set up Guehi’s equaliser before providing the pass for Josko Gvardiol’s stoppage-time winner.
Maresca’s side were fortunate to escape with three points after a mediocre display.
Replacing Pep Guardiola is a daunting task for former Chelsea boss Maresca, but he will have noted the Spaniard also needed a late goal against Sunderland to make a winning start to his reign 10 years ago.
Around 106 miles to the north of Manchester, Iraola was seconds away from defeat when Newcastle defender Lewis Hall made a clumsy challenge on Liverpool substitute Victor Munoz, conceding a penalty that Dominik Szoboszlai lashed into the top corner.
Former Bournemouth boss Iraola has been hired to start a Liverpool revamp after Arne Slot’s sacking in the close-season and the departures of Mohamed Salah, Andrew Robertson and Ibrahima Konate.
The Reds remain a work in progress but the Spaniard can take heart from their gritty escape act.
‘Smack in the face’ for Man Utd
Luke Shaw vowed Manchester United will bounce back from their chastening 2-0 defeat at promoted Hull on Saturday.
Michael Carrick’s men were left with a bloody nose after Hull centre-backs Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy scored from first-half set-pieces.
United lacked the cutting edge required to get back into the game against play-off winners Hull, whose first top-flight match since 2017 caused the shock of the opening weekend.
After finishing third last season, United are expected to mount a title challenge but they will have to improve dramatically to dethrone Arsenal.
United left-back Shaw remained upbeat, saying: “We have the exact same feeling, even now after the game. It will be a very good season from us, I’m sure of it. We’ll be up there.”
Looking ahead to next weekend’s clash with another promoted side in Ipswich, Shaw added: “We felt like we were in a really good place and then, of course, it’s a smack in the face, really.
“But one game won’t define us. We’ll regroup and go again.”
