Arsenal hammered out an early English Premier League title warning on Saturday when they crushed Everton 6-1 at Goodison Park.
Elsewhere on the opening day of the new season, Chelsea came from behind to defeat Hull City 2-1, while moneybags Manchester City beat Blackburn Rovers 2-0.
Arsenal were 3-0 in front before halftime against an Everton side who finished fifth last time out, with Brazilian midfielder Denilson putting the Gunners ahead with a 26th-minute curling shot that gave Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard no chance.
PHOTO: AFP
Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen marked his debut by heading in from a Robin van Persie free-kick and it was a similar story when the equally unattended William Gallas nodded in from a Cesc Fabregas set-piece four minutes before the break.
Fabregas made it 4-0 early in the second half when he crowned a rapid, length of the field, counterattack with a stylish finish, before the Spaniard scored his second after being allowed to run free by the Everton defense.
Eduardo added a sixth two minutes from time after Andrei Arshavin’s shot came back off the post, before Louis Saha pulled one back for Everton.
PHOTO: REUTERS/ERIC THAYER
“Everything went for us today. We were always in charge and dictated the game,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.
The Frenchman, however, refused to get carried away.
“From not competitive at all before the game, we do not now suddenly become a super-favorite as well,” Wenger said.
Everton manager David Moyes was dumbfounded by the defeat.
“The defending was terrible for the set-pieces. We need to do better, I need to do better,” Moyes said.
Manchester City, who, thanks to their Abu-Dhabi based owners, spent nearly £100 million (US$165 million) during the close season, saw one of their new signings give them the lead at Blackburn Rovers when Emmanuel Adebayor, the former Arsenal striker, turned in Shaun Wright-Phillips’ third-minute cross.
Stephen Ireland added the second in the final minute.
City boss Mark Hughes praised Adebayor’s goal.
“It was a great finish,” Hughes said. “He was excellent today, along with a number of other players. The goal settled him down. He worked hard for his teammates.”
Portsmouth, beset by uncertainty surrounding the proposed takeover of the club by Arab businessman Sulaiman Al-Fahim, were undone by Fulham at Fratton Park when Clint Dempsey’s 13th-minute shot deflected off Bobby Zamora and past goalkeeper David James.
Wigan Athletic, in Roberto Martinez’s first match as a Premier League manager, stunned Aston Villa 2-0 when Hugo Rodallega let fly from long range with a dipping shot that beat Brad Friedel, before Jason Koumas made the three points secure the 56th minute.
Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Darren Bent secured Sunderland’s 1-0 victory against Bolton Wanderers with a fifth-minute header.
It was a bad day for two of the promoted teams.
Mark Noble put West Ham United in front at Molineux against Championship winners Wolverhampton Wanderers, with a curling first-half shot, before Matthew Upson’s header from a corner doubled the Hammers’ lead in the 69th minute.
Stoke City were 2-0 up inside 34 minutes against Burnley, playing their first top-flight match in 33 years, after Ryan Shawcross headed them in front, before Stephen Jordan’s own-goal.
Result from yesterday’s early kick-off in the Premier League:
• Manchester Utd 1, Birmingham 0
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