The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Cech struggles as West Ham stun Gunners
Petr Cech made an inauspicious Arsenal league debut as West Ham pulled off a surprise 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium yesterday, their first over the Gunners since April 2007.
The former Chelsea goalkeeper, who moved across London in a £10 million summer deal, was culpable for both goals as West Ham manager Slaven Bilic enjoyed a memorable first afternoon in a Premier League dug-out.
Cech misjudged Dimitri Payet’s freekick two minutes before the break to allow Cheikhou Kouyate to nod the Hammers into a half-time lead.
And it got even worse for the Czech international when he was caught flatfooted by Mauro Zarate’s 57th minute shot and was beaten at his near post.
Liverpool avenged their humiliation on the final day of last season at Stoke by opening their campaign with a 1-0 victory in the Potteries.
Brendan Rodgers’ side lost 6-1 at the Britannia Stadium at the end of May to leave the Liverpool manager’s job hanging by a thread.
AquirkofthefixturelistsentLiverpool back to Stoke just 11 weeks after that embarrassment, but Rodgers was smiling this time as Phillipe Coutinho produced a brilliant late strike.
The Brazilian picked the ball up from deep and advanced with four minutes remaining to unleash a thunderous 25-yard shot past Jack Butland in the Stoke goal to hand Mark Hughes’ side an unfortunate home defeat.
Newcastle manager Steve McClaren was prevented from making a winning start on Tyneside as Southampton substitute Shane Long headed a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw at St James’ Park.
Graziano Pelle headed Southampton in front after 24 minutes but Papiss Cisse levelled three minutes before the break.
Summer signing Gini Wijnaldum put Newcastle ahead soon after the re-start, but Saints substitute Long gave the visitors a share of the spoils when he powered home Dusan Tadic’s cross with 11 minutes remaining.
On Saturday, 10-man Chelsea were forced to cling on for a point as they began their title defence with a 2-2 draw with Swansea at Stamford Bridge.
Jose Mourinho’s men could consider themselves fortunate to scrape a draw against the impressive visitors after goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was sent off in the second half.
Oscar had launched the champions’ campaign in style with an early opener, sparking a manic seven-minute spell in which debutant Andre Ayew equalised for Garry Monk’s men before a Federico Fernandez own goal put the hosts back in front.
Bafetimbi Gomis equalised from the penalty spot in the 55th minute after Courtois was red-carded for hauling him down and Gomis had a further effort disallowed.
Louis van Gaal’s new- look Manchester United kicked off their campaign with an unconvincing 1-0 win over Tottenham in the lunchtime kickoff at Old Trafford.
Kyle Walker stabbed the ball into his own net to hand the points to the home side, who gave run-outs to five debutants including goalkeeper Sergio Romero.
Manchester City lauch their bid tonight with a trip to face West Brom.
Claudio Ranieri marked his Premier League return in style as Leicester built on last season’s stunning survival missionbythumping dismalSunderland 4-2 at the King Power Stadium.
Watford fared best of the top-flight new boys after a flurry of late activity saw them earn a 2-2 draw against Everton at Goodison Park.
But there was a harsh lesson for Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth who dominated for long periods at home to Aston Villa before Rudy Gestede grabbed the only goal of the game in the 72nd minute.
A late disallowed goal from Cameron Jerome denied Norwich the chance of a point as they slipped to a 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace at Carrow Road.