The first day of the Premier League season has been played but not all is as it seems. Only one of the teams who finished in the top four last season were on show today. Arsenal faced what most assumed would be a shaken Crystal Palace at the Emirates after the shock departure of manager Tony Pulis. But Arsene Wenger’s side only just managed a 2-1 win in the final three minutes of the game.
The visitors took a shock first-half lead when Brede Hangeland headed the ball in from a set piece. The Gunners equalised just before the break when Laurent Koscielny nodded in an Alexis Sanchez’s free-kick. Palace looked set for a point but then forward Jason Puncheon was sent off for a second offence in the 89th minute and Aaron Ramsey pounced. The Welsh midfielder was quickest to the loose ball after Mathieu Debuchy’s snap-shot was saved.
Despite their dramatic win this was not the same Arsenal Lollipop watched last weekend when they beat champions Manchester City so comprehensibly in the Charity Shield tie.
German World cup winners Per Mertesacker and Mesut Ozil were absent from today’s match and it was only when rested France striker Olivier Giroud was introduced in the second half that the Gunners looked deadly.
After spending over £61 million – the most any English club has bargained this summer Arsenal did not look like the full package. Chile international sensation Alexis Sanchez played the full 90 minutes but Arsenal are not a one-man team. Last season they found it difficult to put away the top three league contenders but this time they may have trouble putting away the underdogs.
Over at Old Trafford the scoreline was the same but the headline completely different. New manager Van Gaal endured his first defeat as goals from Swansea’s two returning players Ki Sung-yueng and Gylfi Sigurdsson gave the Welsh side a historic victory. Wayne Rooney’s goal from an overhead kick in the 23rd minute was not enough and once again his side were found wanting. Spaniard Ander Herrera was the only new signing United had on the pitch with Luke Shaw injured and Robin Van Persie still dubbed unfit. Like David Moyes before him Van Gaal took full responsibility for the loss. He said: “When you can’t bring it in their first game it is disappointing for the fans.”
“They did not work as a team,” claimed Van Gaal but that it is not the only problem. New signings are needed. Whether it is lack of money or lack of available players willing to make the move Lollipop and I aren’t sure. But things need to change before their opponents start gloating once more.
Arsenal sit at the top of the table despite not playing at their best while United lie in 17th place with new boys Leicester 10 places ahead of them after an impressive 2-2 draw against Everton.
If Lollipop and I were the reigning champions we would not be worried by what we had seen from the two sides most pundits believe will finish in the top four this season.
United and Arsenal both have work to do and so will Manchester City and Liverpool tomorrow. But at least one man can look on with a slight advantage.
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