The candidate Arsenal, with an inspired Bukayo Saka, started today by winning in the English football league, in an inaugural round where Nottingham Forest, managed by the Portuguese Nuno Espírito Santo, drew.
The ‘gunners’, who were in a fierce battle for the title last season, once again won by the Manchester City, made their Premier League debut today with a 2-0 victory at home against Wolverhampton.
Bukayo Saka once again showed himself to be one of the most exciting players currently, with the English international assisting Kai Havertz in the first goal at 25 minutes and scoring the second, with a typical move cutting inside, at 74.
At Arsenal, Fábio Vieira, injured, did not make Mikel Arteta’s options, while in the ‘wolves’, José Sá, Toti, and Rodrigo Gomes were Gary O’Neill’s initial choices, and Chiquinho and Podence came off the bench in the second half.
In Nottingham, Nuno Espírito Santo saw the Forest let a victory slip at home against Bournemouth (1-1).
The team took the lead with a goal from Chris Wood at 23 minutes, in a game where the Portuguese Jota Silva (former Vitória de Guimarães) was on the bench, but Bournemouth equalized late in the game, with a rebound that fell to Semenyo at 87.
The match was marked by the serious injury of Brazilian midfielder Danilo, who is reported to have suffered a leg fracture, with the player surrounded by assistants on the pitch with a visual protection from the outside while receiving medical assistance.
In another game of the afternoon, Newcastle, even with the expulsion of Fabian Schar at just 28 minutes, won against Southampton (1-0), with Isak taking advantage of a mistake by goalkeeper McCarthy to assist Joelinton for the goal at 45 minutes.
The biggest score of the afternoon belonged to Brighton, who, in their visit to Everton, won 3-0, with goals from Mitoma (26 minutes), Welbeck (56), and Adingra (85), in a match where the ‘toffees’ were reduced to 10 players due to the expulsion of Ashley Young at 66.
Portuguese forward Beto also came on for Everton at 76 minutes, while at Brighton, James Milner made history by starting his 23rd consecutive season in the English League, a record in the competition.
The midfielder, who is in his second season at Brighton after eight at Liverpool, made his Premier debut in 2002 when playing for Leeds, and until today shared the record for most seasons in the league with Ryan Giggs, with 22.
The first round of the English League, which also saw Liverpool win at promoted Ipswich (2-0), continues today with West Ham hosting Aston Villa.