Arsenal humiliated 5-0 by City in worst start in its history

Chelsea survive with 10 men to hold Liverpool 1-1

Crestfallen Arsenal players being humiliated in the Premier League has become all-too familiar in recent years. But it's never been this bad. Not in the 128 years since the club started playing in the English leagues. A 5-0 collapse at Manchester City on Saturday left Arsenal with three losses without scoring at the start of the season for the first time in its history.

Arsenal's calamitous performance shouldn't detract from the ruthless efficiency of City.

In the week when the defending Premier League champions missed out on signing not only Harry Kane but also Cristiano Ronaldo, the existing attacking options did the job against a side reduced to 10 men after Granit Xhaka's first-half sending off.

There were two goals and an assist from Ferran Torres, and goals from Ilkay Gündoğan, Gabriel Jesus and Rodri.

Perhaps it was expected. This was Arsenal's ninth successive league loss to City, stretching back into Arsene Wenger's reign.

Unai Emery and, now Mikel Arteta, have been brought in to try to revive Arsenal's fortunes. But the Gunners look further than ever from getting back into the Champions League, let alone winning the title for the first time since 2004.

Arteta has had 20 months in the job since being hired away from City where he was Pep Guardiola's assistant. Now he has two weeks of the international break to face more questions about his suitability to continue as Arsenal manager.

There was nothing to show for the comfortable opening minutes for Arsenal. It was just like that against Chelsea last Sunday and that ended in a 2-0 defeat.

The opener was conceded even earlier this week, after only six minutes.

Left back Kieran Tierney allowed Gabriel Jesus to beat him far too easily for the high ball. And it was a cross from the striker that Gündoğan headed in at the back post off the cross bar, via a slight touch off goalkeeper Bernd Leno.

Far from showing any spirit of recovery, Arsenal's performance deteriorated even more.

It was another soft goal conceded in the 12th minute.

City was able to deploy a short free kick routine and had the space for a passing interchange before Bernardo Silva's high ball into the penalty area evaded the defense and Torres tapped in.

Arsenal was playing to type — even Xhaka was sent off. The fourth red card in his five years at

Arsenal was produced after a twofooted lunge on João Cancelo.

What's worse for Arsenal fans is this calamity was unfolding right in front of the away section. At least they were spared being allowed into the stadium for the pair of defeats at the Etihad Stadium in 2020.

Some Arsenal fans had already started heading to the exit by the time City scored again in the 43rd minute.

Once again Arsenal was sliced through far too easily, this time in a move that started with a ball through the center from goalkeeper Ederson. Torres then played it out to the left wing to Jack Grealish and the $139 million summer signing drifted in the penalty area. Gabriel Jesus was gifted space and time to cushion the pass and then to tap into the net. Some of those Arsenal fans seen heading out of their seats early, clearly weren't just getting in the drinks line early. The pockets of empty seats showed some had enough and left.

No surprise when Arsenal had less than 20% of the time on the ball. Perhaps the only comfort for Arsenal was that it only conceded twice more in the second half, eight minutes after the break.

Again, City had the freedom of Arsenal territory around the penalty area before Torres teed up Rodri to curl into the bottom corner of the net.

Torres was then on target again in the 85th, getting between the center backs to glance in a header from Riyad Mahrez's cross.

Chelsea survives with 10 men to hold Liverpool 1-1 in EPL

Their first goals of the season conceded, their first points dropped. Still, little could separate Liverpool and Chelsea when the title contenders drew 1-1 in the Premier League on Saturday.

Chelsea should be the most satisfied after surviving playing half of the game at Anfield with 10 men after Reece James was sent off for blocking the ball on the line with his right hand.

But the equalizer scored by Mohamed Salah from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time — canceling out Kai Havertz's header from James' corner — was about as threatening as Liverpool got in front of goal.

The flare-up between both sets of players after the penalty was also about as fiery as it got.

The hosts were unable to breakdown a reconfigured Chelsea defense that held off the home threat through a disciplined defensive display. It leaves Liverpool and Chelsea on seven points, and with Tottenham the last remaining side that can make it three wins out of three if it beats Watford on Sunday.

Promoted Brentford stays unbeaten in Premier League

Ivan Toney maintained promoted Brentford's unbeaten start to the Premier League season as the Bees earned a deserved 1-1 draw at Aston Villa on Saturday.

The striker's first goal of the campaign ensured Thomas Frank's side continued its seamless adaptation to life in England's top flight.

Emi Buendia leveled for Villa with his first goal since a clubrecord move from Norwich. That pegged Brentford back, but five points from its first three games — one more point than Villa — represents a healthy return as the Bees denied former boss Dean Smith victory at Villa Park.

Villa fell behind after just seven minutes after failing to clear Saman Ghoddos' corner. Sergi Canos had time to cross low for Pontus Jansson to flick on. He found Toney unmarked and the striker smashed his first Premier League goal high into the corner from 10 yards.

The 25-year-old Toney has now scored in each of the top four tiers of English football.

But Brentford's lead lasted just six minutes when Buendia officially announced himself to Villa Park. Danny Ings scampered down the left and found the Argentine in plenty of space on the edge of the area as Rico Henry backed off.

Buendia needed no second invitation and expertly curled the ball past David Raya.

West Ham twice throws away lead to draw 2-2 with Palace

Conor Gallagher scored both times as Crystal Palace twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday.

They were the first points West Ham has dropped this season after winning both of its opening games, while Patrick Vieira's Palace remains winless on two points. Pablo Fornals exchanged passes with Michail Antonio before slotting in the opener in the 39th minute.

Wilfried Zaha was cutting an increasingly agitated figure for Palace and that was not helped when he blazed over at the start of the second half.

The Ivory Coast forward would play a huge hand in the equalizer, however, crossing for Christian Benteke to nod down to Gallagher whose close-range effort had just enough on it to beat goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski in the 58th.

Despite now being on the back foot, Antonio proved what a fine striker he has become, outmuscling Joachim Andersen and shooting past goalkeeper Vicente Guaita to put West Ham in front again.

This time the lead would last just two minutes as Palace captain James McArthur found Gallagher inside the box and his drag back and finish drew Vieira's side level once again.

Both sides set about finding a wining goal and, despite West Ham having more of the ball, it was Palace who came closest as Marc Guehi headed a free kick from Gallagher over the top in stoppage time.