Premier League Recap: What Happened on the First Sunday of the Season?

After an action-packed Saturday which saw five games take place, yesterday brought us the first Big Six duel of the season, with Arsenal narrowly winning at Old Trafford. There was also a goalless draw between Chelsea and Crystal Palace, as well as Nottingham Forest beating Brentford 3-1.

Arsenal Grind Out Win at Old Trafford

Arsenal began their campaign with a determined 1-0 triumph over Manchester United at Old Trafford, where Riccardo Calafiori’s early goal settled the contest.

The breakthrough came just 13 minutes in as Declan Rice’s corner was poorly dealt with by Altay Bayindir, whose weak punch left Calafiori with a simple header from close range. Arsenal’s threat from set-pieces was evident once again, continuing a theme from last season.

United responded well, with Patrick Dorgu striking the post on the half-hour and Matheus Cunha forcing a fine save from David Raya before half-time. Debutants Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo were lively, with the latter going close with a powerful header that Raya clawed away. Substitute Benjamin Sesko also featured in the second half, though his impact was limited.

Arsenal, meanwhile, had few openings in open play. Viktor Gyokeres failed to muster a shot before being replaced on the hour mark, while Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka struggled to influence the attack. Declan Rice saw a deflected free-kick hit the side netting, but much of the closing stages were spent defending. A crucial block by William Saliba in the 89th minute epitomised the Gunners’ defensive strength as they held firm for the points.

United’s Positives Undone by Goalkeeping Woes

United’s need for a strong start to 2025/26 is clear after their lowest-ever Premier League points and goals tally last season. New signings Cunha, Mbeumo and Sesko arrived with a combined 48 league goals between them in 2024/25, and their promise was visible. Cunha’s direct running troubled Arsenal’s defence, while Mbeumo registered United’s first shot on target and came close with his second-half header.

However, the match was ultimately decided by poor goalkeeping. Manager Ruben Amorim opted for Bayindir in place of Andre Onana, who has recovered from injury, but the decision backfired as the Turkish goalkeeper failed to command his area. With Fulham away next, Amorim will be desperate to eliminate such errors as Sesko pushes for his first start.

Arsenal Win Ugly but Effectively

For Arsenal, expectations are high after three successive runners-up finishes and a summer of investment, including the marquee signing of Gyokeres. While attacking creativity was again lacking, Arteta’s emphasis on set-pieces and defensive organisation paid dividends.

Liverpool’s superiority last season stemmed from greater attacking invention, something Arsenal must rediscover if they are to mount a serious challenge. Still, their defensive foundation remains among the strongest in the league, highlighted by Saliba’s last-ditch interventions and Raya’s superb saves. They now turn their attention to hosting Leeds United next weekend.

Chelsea Frustrated by Palace in Goalless Derby

At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea were held to a 0-0 draw by Crystal Palace despite dominating possession and territory. Enzo Maresca’s men almost struck early when Marc Cucurella’s header was cleared off the line, before Palace thought they had taken the lead through Eberechi Eze’s free-kick on 13 minutes. However, VAR ruled the goal out as Marc Guehi was deemed too close to the Chelsea wall.

Chelsea pressed throughout the second half, with new arrival Estevao adding spark from the bench but failing to keep his shot down. Substitute Andrey Santos squandered the best chance of the match in stoppage time, firing over unmarked.

Despite their recent European triumphs in the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup, Chelsea’s inability to convert pressure into goals was once again exposed, leaving Maresca with work to do ahead of a clash with West Ham United.

Palace’s Discipline Earns Them a Point

Fresh from their FA Cup victory last season and a Community Shield win, Palace showed their resilience once more. Amid speculation over Eze, Guehi and Adam Wharton, manager Oliver Glasner kept faith with his key men. Eze remained a constant threat, forcing Robert Sanchez into saves, while Wharton’s through-ball to Jean-Philippe Mateta nearly brought reward.

Though Palace rarely threatened after the break, their defensive organisation and counter-attacking intent earned them another valuable draw at Stamford Bridge. They will look to carry that momentum into their first-ever European campaign in the Conference League playoffs against Fredrikstad.

Forest Too Strong for Brentford

Nottingham Forest made a flying start with a 3-1 victory over Brentford at the City Ground, inspired by Chris Wood’s double and a superb Morgan Gibbs-White performance.

Wood opened the scoring after just five minutes from a corner before Gibbs-White’s brilliant cross set up Dan Ndoye for a diving header on his Premier League debut. Forest then added a third on the stroke of half-time as Elliot Anderson’s pass released Wood, who rounded Caoimhin Kelleher to score.

Brentford pulled one back through Igor Thiago’s penalty after Ibrahim Sangare handled, but Forest remained in control. Gibbs-White almost capped his display with a spectacular effort, while debutant Ndoye impressed.

Wood and Gibbs-White Shine Bright

Since Nuno Espirito Santo’s arrival in late 2023, only Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland and Alexander Isak have scored more Premier League goals than Wood. His prolific form continued here, reinforcing his importance as Forest prepare for Europa League football.

Retaining Gibbs-White, despite interest from Tottenham Hotspur, could prove Forest’s most valuable move of the summer. With further signings in the pipeline, including Douglas Luiz and Arnaud Kalimuendo, Forest look set for another ambitious campaign.

Brentford’s Concerning Start Under Andrews

For Brentford and new boss Keith Andrews, this was a sobering start. Once strong from set-pieces, they conceded early from one and looked disorganised in the first half. Without key figures such as Bryan Mbeumo and Christian Norgaard, and with Yoane Wissa’s future uncertain, they lacked cohesion.

Thiago at least opened his account from the spot, while new signing Dango Ouattara is expected to add quality. But with Aston Villa up next, Andrews faces a difficult task to stabilise a team that looked vulnerable and short of belief.