Wenger celebrates 20 years at Arsenal in style
For once, a landmark game for Arsene Wenger wasn't spoiled by Chelsea, and this time it was Arsenal humiliating its London rival.
Wenger's 500th and 1,000th games in charge of Arsenal both ended in losses to Chelsea but his fortunes finally changed on the 20th anniversary of his appointment.
Arsenal turned on the style with a 3-0 victory in the Premier League yesterday that exposed Chelsea's defensive frailties and showcased the north London side's attacking prowess.
Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil provided the goals in the first half that gave the Gunners their first home win over Chelsea in six years. Chelsea hadn't even allowed a league goal to Arsenal since January 2013 before this capitulation.
The 66-year-old Wenger has survived in the Arsenal dugout despite last winning the league in 2004, and lifting only the FA Cup twice in the intervening years.
Free-scoring Liverpool won a third straight English Premier League game by thrashing 10man Hull 5-1, with James Milner converting two penalties and its effervescent midfield contributing the other goals.
With nine goals in its first two home games, a new-look Anfield is resembling a fortress again for Liverpool under Juergen Klopp.
Liverpool's problem in recent seasons has been putting away the so-called weaker teams, particularly at home, but Hull had no answer to the hosts' waves of attacks, especially after Ahmed Elmohamady was sent off in the 29th minute.
Adam Lallana scored Liverpool's opener in the 17th after being set up by fellow midfielder Philippe Coutinho, whose goal-bound shot in the 29th was stopped by the elbow of Elmohamady — meaning a straight red for the right back. Milner made no mistake from the spot.
Winger Sadio Mane, who had already hit the crossbar, made it 3-0 in the 36th after Lallana spun to earn enough space in the penalty area to slide a pass into his teammate. Mane scored with a shot on the turn.
Hull was playing without a recognized striker in an attempt to stem the tide but still managed to equalize, David Meyler ramming home from a corner just after the break.
Coutinho restored Liverpool's three-goal lead with a dipping 20-meter shot less than 60 seconds later, and Milner scored his second from the spot after Daniel Sturridge was fouled by Andrew Robertson.
Sergio Aguero scored twice on his return from suspension as Manchester City beat Swansea 31 to clinch a sixth straight win to open the English Premier League yesterday.
Raheem Sterling grabbed the other goal for City, whose only negative was the sight of playmaker Kevin De Bruyne limping off late on with an apparent hamstring injury.
City has won its first 10 games of the season under new coach Pep Guardiola — a club record — and has a four-point lead after six rounds in the Premier League. Guardiola tied Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea record for six consecutive victories at the start of a league.
Son Heung-min stepped up in Harry Kane's injury absence with two goals to give Tottenham a 2-1 victory at Middlesbrough.
Kane, last season's top scorer in the league, injured his right ankle last weekend and faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
But Son, who wanted to leave Tottenham in the offseason, has scored his second double inside two weeks — netting both inside 23 minutes at Middlesbrough.
Everton's unbeaten start to the English Premier League ended as Bournemouth scored early and held on for a priceless second league victory.
Junior Stanislas scored the only goal from a 20-yard drive in the 23rd minute.
As Manchester United's goals flew in at Old Trafford, Wayne Rooney could only applaud from the substitutes' bench.
He might have to get used to his new role as a bystander.
Rooney was dropped for the English Premier League game against champion Leicester yesterday in Jose Mourinho's biggest call in his short time in charge at Old Trafford. It proved a good decision, with United winning 4-1 and Rooney's replacement at No. 10 — Juan Mata — scoring.
Aside from being occasionally rested, Rooney has not been dropped by United since he was left out by Louis van Gaal against Stoke midway through last season. Before that, he was also dropped for the last three games of Alex Ferguson's long reign in the 2012-13 season after falling out with the then-United manager.
The 30-year-old Rooney has scored one goal in eight games for club and country this season.
"My captain is my captain," Mourinho said. "If he is on the pitch, if he is at home, he is my captain. It's not a problem."
Mourinho said it was a tactical decision to drop Rooney, rather than a reflection on his form.
"We thought today the way they defend, the profile of their defenders, we thought the best solution for us was to play with the two fast kids (wingers Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard) and with Mata in a position where he can interact with these young kids," Mourinho said.